diff --git a/py/conftest.py b/py/conftest.py
index fd1b28d6bebc9..c790b27a489c0 100644
--- a/py/conftest.py
+++ b/py/conftest.py
@@ -443,6 +443,19 @@ def clean_driver(request):
     except (AttributeError, TypeError):
         raise Exception("This test requires a --driver to be specified.")
     driver_reference = getattr(webdriver, driver_class)
+
+    # conditionally mark tests as expected to fail based on driver
+    marker = request.node.get_closest_marker(f"xfail_{driver_class.lower()}")
+    if marker is not None:
+        if "run" in marker.kwargs:
+            if marker.kwargs["run"] is False:
+                pytest.skip()
+                yield
+                return
+        if "raises" in marker.kwargs:
+            marker.kwargs.pop("raises")
+        pytest.xfail(**marker.kwargs)
+
     yield driver_reference
     if request.node.get_closest_marker("no_driver_after_test"):
         driver_reference = None
diff --git a/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webdriver.py b/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webdriver.py
index 07627a488a10e..b90ae35d703a0 100644
--- a/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webdriver.py
+++ b/py/selenium/webdriver/remote/webdriver.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 # KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
 # specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
-
 """The WebDriver implementation."""
 
 import base64
@@ -75,7 +74,6 @@
 from .websocket_connection import WebSocketConnection
 
 cdp = None
-devtools = None
 
 
 def import_cdp():
@@ -267,6 +265,7 @@ def __init__(
         self._storage = None
         self._webextension = None
         self._permissions = None
+        self._devtools = None
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return f'<{type(self).__module__}.{type(self).__name__} (session="{self.session_id}")>'
@@ -1182,32 +1181,28 @@ def orientation(self, value) -> None:
             raise WebDriverException("You can only set the orientation to 'LANDSCAPE' and 'PORTRAIT'")
 
     def start_devtools(self):
-        global devtools
-        if self._websocket_connection:
-            return devtools, self._websocket_connection
+        global cdp
+        import_cdp()
+        if self.caps.get("se:cdp"):
+            ws_url = self.caps.get("se:cdp")
+            version = self.caps.get("se:cdpVersion").split(".")[0]
         else:
-            global cdp
-            import_cdp()
-
-            if not devtools:
-                if self.caps.get("se:cdp"):
-                    ws_url = self.caps.get("se:cdp")
-                    version = self.caps.get("se:cdpVersion").split(".")[0]
-                else:
-                    version, ws_url = self._get_cdp_details()
-
-                if not ws_url:
-                    raise WebDriverException("Unable to find url to connect to from capabilities")
-
-                devtools = cdp.import_devtools(version)
-                if self.caps["browserName"].lower() == "firefox":
-                    raise RuntimeError("CDP support for Firefox has been removed. Please switch to WebDriver BiDi.")
-            self._websocket_connection = WebSocketConnection(ws_url)
-            targets = self._websocket_connection.execute(devtools.target.get_targets())
-            target_id = targets[0].target_id
-            session = self._websocket_connection.execute(devtools.target.attach_to_target(target_id, True))
-            self._websocket_connection.session_id = session
-            return devtools, self._websocket_connection
+            version, ws_url = self._get_cdp_details()
+
+        if not ws_url:
+            raise WebDriverException("Unable to find url to connect to from capabilities")
+
+        self._devtools = cdp.import_devtools(version)
+        if self._websocket_connection:
+            return self._devtools, self._websocket_connection
+        if self.caps["browserName"].lower() == "firefox":
+            raise RuntimeError("CDP support for Firefox has been removed. Please switch to WebDriver BiDi.")
+        self._websocket_connection = WebSocketConnection(ws_url)
+        targets = self._websocket_connection.execute(self._devtools.target.get_targets())
+        target_id = targets[0].target_id
+        session = self._websocket_connection.execute(self._devtools.target.attach_to_target(target_id, True))
+        self._websocket_connection.session_id = session
+        return self._devtools, self._websocket_connection
 
     @asynccontextmanager
     async def bidi_connection(self):
@@ -1282,9 +1277,8 @@ def browser(self):
 
     @property
     def _session(self):
-        """
-        Returns the BiDi session object for the current WebDriver session.
-        """
+        """Returns the BiDi session object for the current WebDriver
+        session."""
         if not self._websocket_connection:
             self._start_bidi()
 
@@ -1295,7 +1289,8 @@ def _session(self):
 
     @property
     def browsing_context(self):
-        """Returns a browsing context module object for BiDi browsing context commands.
+        """Returns a browsing context module object for BiDi browsing context
+        commands.
 
         Returns:
         --------
diff --git a/py/test/selenium/webdriver/common/devtools_tests.py b/py/test/selenium/webdriver/common/devtools_tests.py
index 8d46f3b2742af..46f35e7672d61 100644
--- a/py/test/selenium/webdriver/common/devtools_tests.py
+++ b/py/test/selenium/webdriver/common/devtools_tests.py
@@ -38,3 +38,16 @@ def test_check_console_messages(driver, pages, recwarn):
     assert console_api_calls[0].args[0].value == "I love cheese"
     assert console_api_calls[1].type_ == "error"
     assert console_api_calls[1].args[0].value == "I love bread"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail_safari
+@pytest.mark.xfail_firefox
+@pytest.mark.xfail_remote
+def test_check_start_twice(clean_driver, clean_options):
+    driver1 = clean_driver(options=clean_options)
+    devtools1, connection1 = driver1.start_devtools()
+    driver1.quit()
+
+    driver2 = clean_driver(options=clean_options)
+    devtools2, connection2 = driver2.start_devtools()
+    driver2.quit()