diff --git a/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-bus.zig b/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-bus.zig
index eef7f91..c2c5f8b 100644
--- a/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-bus.zig
+++ b/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus/usb-xhci-bus.zig
@@ -189,6 +189,10 @@ fn speedName(speed: u32) []const u8 {
 /// class driver against.
 var manager_handle: ?runtime.ipc.Handle = null;
 
+// Per-root-port connected state from the previous tick, so the poll acts on
+// empty->connected transitions (edge), never re-attempting a level every tick.
+var prev_connected: [64]bool = [_]bool{false} ** 64;
+
 fn scanPorts(manager: runtime.ipc.Handle) void {
     const engine = if (controller) |*c| c else {
         _ = runtime.system.write("/system/drivers/usb-xhci-bus: controller not initialised\n");
@@ -204,6 +208,7 @@ fn scanPorts(manager: runtime.ipc.Handle) void {
     var connected: u32 = 0;
     while (port <= engine.max_ports) : (port += 1) {
         if (!engine.portConnected(port)) continue;
+        if (port < prev_connected.len) prev_connected[port] = true; // don't re-fire the poll for these
         connected += 1;
         bringUpPort(manager, engine, port);
     }
@@ -495,6 +500,29 @@ fn onNotification(badge: u64) void {
     if (badge & runtime.ipc.notify_timer_bit == 0) return;
     if (controller) |*engine| {
         engine.pump();
+        // Poll every root port and reconcile — a device present but not yet
+        // enumerated is brought up; a device gone is torn down. This does NOT
+        // depend on a Port Status Change EVENT firing: the boot scan runs ~3 ms
+        // after the controller reset, far too early for a USB2 connection to
+        // debounce (~100 ms), and the SuperSpeed devices that DO show up early
+        // proved the event path unreliable for the late USB2 companion hub on
+        // real hardware. Polling catches it on the next tick regardless.
+        if (manager_handle) |manager| {
+            var port: u32 = 1;
+            while (port <= engine.max_ports and port <= prev_connected.len) : (port += 1) {
+                const connected = engine.portConnected(port);
+                const was = prev_connected[port];
+                prev_connected[port] = connected;
+                if (connected and !was and engine.deviceOnPort(port) == null) {
+                    // Rising edge the boot scan missed (it ran before the USB2
+                    // connection debounced): bring the device up now.
+                    std.log.info("root port {d}: device appeared (PORTSC 0x{x:0>8})", .{ port, engine.portStatus(port) });
+                    bringUpPort(manager, engine, port);
+                } else if (!connected and was and engine.deviceOnPort(port) != null) {
+                    tearDownPort(manager, engine, port);
+                }
+            }
+        }
         while (engine.takePortChange()) |port| {
             const manager = manager_handle orelse break;
             const connected = engine.portConnected(port);