diff --git a/finesse/hardware/plugins/sensors/decades.py b/finesse/hardware/plugins/sensors/decades.py
index 9e154838..3dcb6e79 100644
--- a/finesse/hardware/plugins/sensors/decades.py
+++ b/finesse/hardware/plugins/sensors/decades.py
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def __init__(
         self._params: list[DecadesParameter]
         """Parameters returned by the server."""
 
-        super().__init__(poll_interval, start_polling=False)
+        super().__init__(poll_interval)
 
         # Obtain full parameter list in order to parse received data
         self.obtain_parameter_list(
diff --git a/finesse/hardware/plugins/sensors/em27_sensors.py b/finesse/hardware/plugins/sensors/em27_sensors.py
index 1e9f6163..6a5d290c 100644
--- a/finesse/hardware/plugins/sensors/em27_sensors.py
+++ b/finesse/hardware/plugins/sensors/em27_sensors.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def __init__(self, url: str, poll_interval: float = float("nan")) -> None:
         self._requester = HTTPRequester()
         self._connected = False
 
-        super().__init__(poll_interval, start_polling=False)
+        super().__init__(poll_interval)
 
         self.request_readings()
 
diff --git a/finesse/hardware/plugins/sensors/sensors_base.py b/finesse/hardware/plugins/sensors/sensors_base.py
index 4256060d..103a6572 100644
--- a/finesse/hardware/plugins/sensors/sensors_base.py
+++ b/finesse/hardware/plugins/sensors/sensors_base.py
@@ -23,15 +23,12 @@ class SensorsBase(
     calling send_readings_message() with new sensor values (at some point).
     """
 
-    def __init__(
-        self, poll_interval: float = float("nan"), start_polling: bool = True
-    ) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, poll_interval: float = float("nan")) -> None:
         """Create a new SensorsBase.
 
         Args:
             poll_interval: How often to poll the sensor device (seconds). If set to nan,
                            the device will only be polled once on device open
-            start_polling: Whether to start polling the device immediately
         """
         super().__init__()
 
@@ -39,9 +36,6 @@ def __init__(
         self._poll_timer.timeout.connect(self.request_readings)
         self._poll_interval = poll_interval
 
-        if start_polling:
-            self.start_polling()
-
     def start_polling(self) -> None:
         """Begin polling the device."""
         if not isnan(self._poll_interval):
diff --git a/tests/hardware/plugins/sensors/test_sensors_base.py b/tests/hardware/plugins/sensors/test_sensors_base.py
index 0f872992..04362c5c 100644
--- a/tests/hardware/plugins/sensors/test_sensors_base.py
+++ b/tests/hardware/plugins/sensors/test_sensors_base.py
@@ -16,34 +16,27 @@ def device(timer_mock: Mock) -> SensorsBase:
 
 
 class _MockSensorsDevice(SensorsBase, description="Mock sensors device"):
-    def __init__(self, poll_interval: float = float("nan"), start_polling=True):
+    def __init__(self, poll_interval: float = float("nan")):
         self.request_readings_mock = MagicMock()
-        super().__init__(poll_interval, start_polling)
+        super().__init__(poll_interval)
 
     def request_readings(self) -> None:
         self.request_readings_mock()
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("start_polling", (False, True))
 @patch("finesse.hardware.plugins.sensors.sensors_base.QTimer")
-def test_init(timer_mock: Mock, start_polling: bool) -> None:
+def test_init(timer_mock: Mock) -> None:
     """Test for the constructor."""
-    with patch.object(_MockSensorsDevice, "start_polling") as start_mock:
-        device = _MockSensorsDevice(1.0, start_polling)
-        assert device._poll_interval == 1.0
-        timer = cast(Mock, device._poll_timer)
-        timer.timeout.connect.assert_called_once_with(device.request_readings)
-
-        if start_polling:
-            start_mock.assert_called_once_with()
-        else:
-            start_mock.assert_not_called()
+    device = _MockSensorsDevice(1.0)
+    assert device._poll_interval == 1.0
+    timer = cast(Mock, device._poll_timer)
+    timer.timeout.connect.assert_called_once_with(device.request_readings)
 
 
 @patch("finesse.hardware.plugins.sensors.sensors_base.QTimer")
 def test_start_polling_oneshot(timer_mock: Mock) -> None:
     """Test the start_polling() method when polling is only done once."""
-    device = _MockSensorsDevice(start_polling=False)
+    device = _MockSensorsDevice()
 
     device.start_polling()
     timer = cast(Mock, device._poll_timer)
@@ -53,7 +46,7 @@ def test_start_polling_oneshot(timer_mock: Mock) -> None:
 @patch("finesse.hardware.plugins.sensors.sensors_base.QTimer")
 def test_start_polling_repeated(timer_mock: Mock) -> None:
     """Test the start_polling() method when polling is only done repeatedly."""
-    device = _MockSensorsDevice(1.0, start_polling=False)
+    device = _MockSensorsDevice(1.0)
 
     device.start_polling()
     timer = cast(Mock, device._poll_timer)