diff --git a/components/domain/src/printer_protocol.c b/components/domain/src/printer_protocol.c
index 1945ceb..0bc499d 100644
--- a/components/domain/src/printer_protocol.c
+++ b/components/domain/src/printer_protocol.c
@@ -682,6 +682,24 @@ esp_err_t printer_protocol_init(void) {
         return err;
     }
 
+    if (s_backend == PRINTER_BACKEND_DIRECT) {
+        uint32_t connect_timeout_ms = domain_policy_rest_printer_connect_timeout_ms();
+        err = platform_direct_printer_connect(connect_timeout_ms);
+        if (err != ESP_OK) {
+            s_protocol_initialized = false;
+            platform_direct_printer_disconnect();
+            platform_direct_printer_deinit();
+            destroy_runtime_objects();
+            return err;
+        }
+
+        if (xSemaphoreTake(s_mutex, pdMS_TO_TICKS(200)) == pdTRUE) {
+            refresh_direct_status_locked();
+            xSemaphoreGive(s_mutex);
+        }
+        ESP_LOGI(TAG, "direct printer auto connected at startup");
+    }
+
     BaseType_t ok = printer_create_task_prefer_psram(printer_protocol_worker_task,
                                                       "print_worker",
                                                       6144,