diff --git a/libraries/MySensors/MyGateway.cpp b/libraries/MySensors/MyGateway.cpp
index db4e4ee..404b5b4 100644
--- a/libraries/MySensors/MyGateway.cpp
+++ b/libraries/MySensors/MyGateway.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,12 @@ void MyGateway::begin(void (*_msgCallback)(const MyMessage &)
 #endif
 #endif
 
+	// initialize the transport driver
+	if (!transport.begin()) {
+		debug(PSTR("transport driver init fail\n"));
+		while(1); // Nothing more we can do
+	}
+
 	// Start MySensors in repeater mode
 	MySensor::begin(_msgCallback, GATEWAY_ADDRESS, true, GATEWAY_ADDRESS);
 
diff --git a/libraries/MySensors/MyGatewayTransport.h b/libraries/MySensors/MyGatewayTransport.h
index d94006f..da03ff5 100644
--- a/libraries/MySensors/MyGatewayTransport.h
+++ b/libraries/MySensors/MyGatewayTransport.h
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ public:
 	// MyProtocol constructor
 	MyGatewayTransport(MyProtocol &protocol = *new MyProtocolDefault());
 
+	// initialize the transport driver
+	virtual bool begin() = 0;
+
 	// Send message to controller
 	virtual bool send(MyMessage &message) = 0;
 
diff --git a/libraries/MySensors/MyGatewayTransportSerial.cpp b/libraries/MySensors/MyGatewayTransportSerial.cpp
index e0f79bf..f5acbed 100644
--- a/libraries/MySensors/MyGatewayTransportSerial.cpp
+++ b/libraries/MySensors/MyGatewayTransportSerial.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ MyGatewayTransportSerial::MyGatewayTransportSerial(MyProtocol &_protocol) : MyGa
 
 }
 
+bool MyGatewayTransportSerial::begin() {
+	return true;
+}
+
 bool MyGatewayTransportSerial::send(MyMessage &message) {
 	Serial.print(protocol.format(message));
 	// Serial print is always successful
diff --git a/libraries/MySensors/MyGatewayTransportSerial.h b/libraries/MySensors/MyGatewayTransportSerial.h
index 678e932..44434cf 100644
--- a/libraries/MySensors/MyGatewayTransportSerial.h
+++ b/libraries/MySensors/MyGatewayTransportSerial.h
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ public:
 	// MyGateway constructor
 	MyGatewayTransportSerial(MyProtocol &protocol = *new MyProtocolDefault());
 
+	// initialize the transport driver
+	bool begin();
+
 	// Send message to controller
 	bool send(MyMessage &message);