diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/harddriv.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/harddriv.cpp
index 815cf4f2032..76a0c668f9b 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/harddriv.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/harddriv.cpp
@@ -461,7 +461,8 @@ harddriv_state::harddriv_state(const machine_config &mconfig, const char *tag, d
 			m_sound_int_state(0),
 			m_video_int_state(0),
 			m_palette(*this, "palette"),
-			m_slapstic_device(*this, "slapstic")
+			m_slapstic_device(*this, "slapstic"),
+			m_rs232(*this, "rs232")
 {
 	int i;
 
@@ -1445,6 +1446,10 @@ static MACHINE_CONFIG_FRAGMENT( driver_nomsp )
 
 	MCFG_MC68681_ADD("duartn68681", XTAL_3_6864MHz)
 	MCFG_MC68681_IRQ_CALLBACK(WRITELINE(harddriv_state, harddriv_duart_irq_handler))
+	MCFG_MC68681_A_TX_CALLBACK(DEVWRITELINE ("rs232", rs232_port_device, write_txd))
+
+	MCFG_RS232_PORT_ADD("rs232", default_rs232_devices, nullptr)
+	MCFG_RS232_RXD_HANDLER(DEVWRITELINE ("duartn68681", mc68681_device, rx_a_w))
 
 	/* video hardware */
 	MCFG_PALETTE_ADD("palette", 1024)
diff --git a/src/mame/includes/harddriv.h b/src/mame/includes/harddriv.h
index 24cee21b4b1..1ed1894258a 100644
--- a/src/mame/includes/harddriv.h
+++ b/src/mame/includes/harddriv.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "machine/mc68681.h"
 #include "machine/asic65.h"
 #include "machine/timekpr.h"
+#include "bus/rs232/rs232.h"
 
 #define HARDDRIV_MASTER_CLOCK   XTAL_32MHz
 #define HARDDRIV_GSP_CLOCK      XTAL_48MHz
@@ -453,6 +454,8 @@ protected:
 	int get_hblank(screen_device &screen) const { return (screen.hpos() > (screen.width() * 9 / 10)); }
 	optional_device<atari_slapstic_device> m_slapstic_device;
 
+	optional_device<rs232_port_device> m_rs232;
+
 protected:
 	//virtual machine_config_constructor device_mconfig_additions() const;
 	virtual void device_start() override;