diff --git a/adb/transport.cpp b/adb/transport.cpp
index 922200826..3c74c7591 100644
--- a/adb/transport.cpp
+++ b/adb/transport.cpp
@@ -1190,17 +1190,11 @@ void close_usb_devices() {
 }
 #endif  // ADB_HOST
 
-int register_socket_transport(unique_fd s, const char* serial, int port, int local,
+int register_socket_transport(unique_fd s, std::string serial, int port, int local,
                               atransport::ReconnectCallback reconnect) {
     atransport* t = new atransport(std::move(reconnect), kCsOffline);
 
-    if (!serial) {
-        char buf[32];
-        snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "T-%p", t);
-        serial = buf;
-    }
-
-    D("transport: %s init'ing for socket %d, on port %d", serial, s.get(), port);
+    D("transport: %s init'ing for socket %d, on port %d", serial.c_str(), s.get(), port);
     if (init_socket_transport(t, std::move(s), port, local) < 0) {
         delete t;
         return -1;
@@ -1208,7 +1202,7 @@ int register_socket_transport(unique_fd s, const char* serial, int port, int loc
 
     std::unique_lock<std::recursive_mutex> lock(transport_lock);
     for (const auto& transport : pending_list) {
-        if (strcmp(serial, transport->serial.c_str()) == 0) {
+        if (serial == transport->serial) {
             VLOG(TRANSPORT) << "socket transport " << transport->serial
                             << " is already in pending_list and fails to register";
             delete t;
@@ -1217,7 +1211,7 @@ int register_socket_transport(unique_fd s, const char* serial, int port, int loc
     }
 
     for (const auto& transport : transport_list) {
-        if (strcmp(serial, transport->serial.c_str()) == 0) {
+        if (serial == transport->serial) {
             VLOG(TRANSPORT) << "socket transport " << transport->serial
                             << " is already in transport_list and fails to register";
             delete t;
@@ -1225,8 +1219,8 @@ int register_socket_transport(unique_fd s, const char* serial, int port, int loc
         }
     }
 
+    t->serial = std::move(serial);
     pending_list.push_front(t);
-    t->serial = serial;
 
     lock.unlock();
 
diff --git a/adb/transport.h b/adb/transport.h
index 1844ae8aa..4bfc2ce2b 100644
--- a/adb/transport.h
+++ b/adb/transport.h
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ void register_usb_transport(usb_handle* h, const char* serial,
 void connect_device(const std::string& address, std::string* response);
 
 /* cause new transports to be init'd and added to the list */
-int register_socket_transport(unique_fd s, const char* serial, int port, int local,
+int register_socket_transport(unique_fd s, std::string serial, int port, int local,
                               atransport::ReconnectCallback reconnect);
 
 // This should only be used for transports with connection_state == kCsNoPerm.
diff --git a/adb/transport_local.cpp b/adb/transport_local.cpp
index 9398cebe8..3b1552e3a 100644
--- a/adb/transport_local.cpp
+++ b/adb/transport_local.cpp
@@ -125,8 +125,7 @@ void connect_device(const std::string& address, std::string* response) {
         return init_socket_transport(t, std::move(fd), port, 0) >= 0;
     };
 
-    int ret =
-            register_socket_transport(std::move(fd), serial.c_str(), port, 0, std::move(reconnect));
+    int ret = register_socket_transport(std::move(fd), serial, port, 0, std::move(reconnect));
     if (ret < 0) {
         if (ret == -EALREADY) {
             *response = android::base::StringPrintf("already connected to %s", serial.c_str());
@@ -162,7 +161,7 @@ int local_connect_arbitrary_ports(int console_port, int adb_port, std::string* e
         close_on_exec(fd.get());
         disable_tcp_nagle(fd.get());
         std::string serial = getEmulatorSerialString(console_port);
-        if (register_socket_transport(std::move(fd), serial.c_str(), adb_port, 1,
+        if (register_socket_transport(std::move(fd), std::move(serial), adb_port, 1,
                                       [](atransport*) { return false; }) == 0) {
             return 0;
         }
@@ -265,7 +264,7 @@ static void server_socket_thread(int port) {
             close_on_exec(fd.get());
             disable_tcp_nagle(fd.get());
             std::string serial = android::base::StringPrintf("host-%d", fd.get());
-            register_socket_transport(std::move(fd), serial.c_str(), port, 1,
+            register_socket_transport(std::move(fd), std::move(serial), port, 1,
                                       [](atransport*) { return false; });
         }
     }
@@ -362,7 +361,7 @@ static void qemu_socket_thread(int port) {
                  * exchange. */
                 std::string serial = android::base::StringPrintf("host-%d", fd.get());
                 WriteFdExactly(fd.get(), _start_req, strlen(_start_req));
-                register_socket_transport(std::move(fd), serial.c_str(), port, 1,
+                register_socket_transport(std::move(fd), std::move(serial), port, 1,
                                           [](atransport*) { return false; });
             }