diff --git a/audiostream.go b/audiostream.go
index 5647052..cb5943c 100644
--- a/audiostream.go
+++ b/audiostream.go
@@ -134,27 +134,18 @@ func (s *audioStream) start(devName string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := s.common.sendPkt3(); err != nil {
+	if err := s.common.start(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := s.common.waitForPkt4Answer(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := s.common.sendPkt6(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := s.common.waitForPkt6Answer(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	log.Print("stream started")
-
-	s.timeoutTimer = time.NewTimer(audioTimeoutDuration)
 
 	s.common.pkt7.startPeriodicSend(&s.common, 1, false)
 	// This stream does not use periodic pkt0 idle packets.
 	s.audioSendSeq = 1
 
+	log.Print("stream started")
+
+	s.timeoutTimer = time.NewTimer(audioTimeoutDuration)
+
 	s.deinitNeededChan = make(chan bool)
 	s.deinitFinishedChan = make(chan bool)
 	go s.loop()
diff --git a/controlstream.go b/controlstream.go
index 64eea4a..4eee645 100644
--- a/controlstream.go
+++ b/controlstream.go
@@ -261,21 +261,11 @@ func (s *controlStream) start() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if err := s.common.start(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	s.common.pkt7.startPeriodicSend(&s.common, 2, false)
-
-	if err := s.common.sendPkt3(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := s.common.waitForPkt4Answer(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := s.common.sendPkt6(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := s.common.waitForPkt6Answer(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	s.common.pkt0.startPeriodicSend(&s.common)
 
 	if err := s.sendPktLogin(); err != nil {
diff --git a/serialstream.go b/serialstream.go
index 0b6a6c3..10734e3 100644
--- a/serialstream.go
+++ b/serialstream.go
@@ -218,20 +218,9 @@ func (s *serialStream) start(devName string) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err := s.common.sendPkt3(); err != nil {
+	if err := s.common.start(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := s.common.waitForPkt4Answer(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := s.common.sendPkt6(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := s.common.waitForPkt6Answer(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	log.Print("stream started")
 
 	s.common.pkt7.startPeriodicSend(&s.common, 1, false)
 	s.common.pkt0.startPeriodicSend(&s.common)
@@ -240,6 +229,8 @@ func (s *serialStream) start(devName string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	log.Print("stream started")
+
 	if err := s.tcpsrv.start(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/streamcommon.go b/streamcommon.go
index 20e4611..6dd60cb 100644
--- a/streamcommon.go
+++ b/streamcommon.go
@@ -218,6 +218,19 @@ func (s *streamCommon) sendDisconnect() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (s *streamCommon) start() error {
+	if err := s.sendPkt3(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := s.waitForPkt4Answer(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := s.sendPkt6(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return s.waitForPkt6Answer()
+}
+
 func (s *streamCommon) init(name string, portNumber int) error {
 	s.name = name
 	hostPort := fmt.Sprint(connectAddress, ":", portNumber)