diff --git a/zenoh/src/net/runtime/orchestrator.rs b/zenoh/src/net/runtime/orchestrator.rs
index 687fa90649..f8bce8e0de 100644
--- a/zenoh/src/net/runtime/orchestrator.rs
+++ b/zenoh/src/net/runtime/orchestrator.rs
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ impl Runtime {
 
         self.connect_peers(&peers, false).await?;
 
-        if scouting {
+        if scouting && !autoconnect.is_empty() {
             self.start_scout(listen, autoconnect, addr, ifaces).await?;
         }
         tokio::time::sleep(delay).await;
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ impl Runtime {
 
         self.connect_peers(&peers, false).await?;
 
-        if scouting {
+        if scouting && !autoconnect.is_empty() {
             self.start_scout(listen, autoconnect, addr, ifaces).await?;
         }