diff --git a/src/scripts/autocast.js b/src/scripts/autocast.js
index ead25e06eb..16f5865723 100644
--- a/src/scripts/autocast.js
+++ b/src/scripts/autocast.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { playbackManager } from '../components/playback/playbackmanager';
 import Events from '../utils/events.ts';
 
 export function enable(enabled) {
+    console.debug('[autocast] %s cast player', enabled ? 'enabling' : 'disabling');
     if (enabled) {
         const currentPlayerInfo = playbackManager.getPlayerInfo();
 
@@ -22,20 +23,35 @@ export function isEnabled() {
 
 function onOpen() {
     const playerId = localStorage.getItem('autocastPlayerId');
+    if (!playerId) {
+        console.debug('[autocast] no active cast player');
+        return;
+    }
+
+    console.debug('[autocast] initializing cast player', playerId);
 
     playbackManager.getTargets().then(function (targets) {
-        for (const target of targets) {
-            if (target.id == playerId) {
-                playbackManager.trySetActivePlayer(target.playerName, target);
-                break;
-            }
+        console.debug('[autocast] playback targets', targets);
+
+        const player = targets.find(target => target.id === playerId);
+        if (player) {
+            console.debug('[autocast] found target player', player);
+            playbackManager.trySetActivePlayer(player.playerName, player);
+        } else {
+            console.debug('[autocast] selected cast player not found');
         }
     });
 }
 
 export function initialize(apiClient) {
     if (apiClient) {
-        Events.on(apiClient, 'websocketopen', onOpen);
+        if (apiClient.isWebSocketOpen()) {
+            console.debug('[autoCast] connection ready');
+            onOpen();
+        } else {
+            console.debug('[autoCast] initializing connection listener');
+            Events.on(apiClient, 'websocketopen', onOpen);
+        }
     } else {
         console.warn('[autoCast] cannot initialize missing apiClient');
     }