diff --git a/kms/yubikey/yubikey.go b/kms/yubikey/yubikey.go
index 357c5bbf..5cb8db55 100644
--- a/kms/yubikey/yubikey.go
+++ b/kms/yubikey/yubikey.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"crypto/x509"
 	"encoding/asn1"
 	"encoding/hex"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/url"
 	"strconv"
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ type pivKey interface {
 	GenerateKey(key [24]byte, slot piv.Slot, opts piv.Key) (crypto.PublicKey, error)
 	PrivateKey(slot piv.Slot, public crypto.PublicKey, auth piv.KeyAuth) (crypto.PrivateKey, error)
 	Attest(slot piv.Slot) (*x509.Certificate, error)
+	Serial() (uint32, error)
 	Close() error
 }
 
@@ -141,8 +143,8 @@ func New(_ context.Context, opts apiv1.Options) (*YubiKey, error) {
 		// Attempt to locate the yubikey with the given serial.
 		for _, name := range cards {
 			if k, err := openCard(name); err == nil {
-				if cert, err := k.Attest(piv.SlotAuthentication); err == nil {
-					if serial == getSerialNumber(cert) {
+				if s, err := k.Serial(); err == nil {
+					if serial == strconv.FormatUint(uint64(s), 10) {
 						yk = k
 						card = name
 						break
@@ -353,10 +355,22 @@ func (k *YubiKey) CreateAttestation(req *apiv1.CreateAttestationRequest) (*apiv1
 		Certificate:         cert,
 		CertificateChain:    []*x509.Certificate{cert, intermediate},
 		PublicKey:           cert.PublicKey,
-		PermanentIdentifier: getSerialNumber(cert),
+		PermanentIdentifier: getAttestedSerial(cert),
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// Serial returns the serial number of the PIV card or and empty
+// string if retrieval fails
+func (k *YubiKey) Serial() (string, error) {
+	serial, err := k.yk.Serial()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("error getting Yubikey's serial number: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return strconv.FormatUint(uint64(serial), 10), nil
+}
+
 // Close releases the connection to the YubiKey.
 func (k *YubiKey) Close() error {
 	if err := k.yk.Close(); err != nil {
@@ -505,10 +519,10 @@ func getPolicies(req *apiv1.CreateKeyRequest) (piv.PINPolicy, piv.TouchPolicy) {
 	return pin, touch
 }
 
-// getSerialNumber returns the serial number from an attestation certificate. It
+// getAttestedSerial returns the serial number from an attestation certificate. It
 // will return an empty string if the serial number extension does not exist
 // or if it is malformed.
-func getSerialNumber(cert *x509.Certificate) string {
+func getAttestedSerial(cert *x509.Certificate) string {
 	for _, ext := range cert.Extensions {
 		if ext.Id.Equal(oidYubicoSerialNumber) {
 			var serialNumber int
@@ -519,6 +533,7 @@ func getSerialNumber(cert *x509.Certificate) string {
 			return strconv.Itoa(serialNumber)
 		}
 	}
+
 	return ""
 }
 
diff --git a/kms/yubikey/yubikey_test.go b/kms/yubikey/yubikey_test.go
index 369a3dd1..8052f87b 100644
--- a/kms/yubikey/yubikey_test.go
+++ b/kms/yubikey/yubikey_test.go
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ type stubPivKey struct {
 	certMap       map[piv.Slot]*x509.Certificate
 	signerMap     map[piv.Slot]interface{}
 	keyOptionsMap map[piv.Slot]piv.Key
+	serial        uint32
+	serialErr     error
 	closeErr      error
 }
 
@@ -93,7 +95,8 @@ func newStubPivKey(t *testing.T, alg symmetricAlgorithm) *stubPivKey {
 		t.Fatal(errors.New("unknown alg"))
 	}
 
-	serialNumber, err := asn1.Marshal(112233)
+	sn := 112233
+	snAsn1, err := asn1.Marshal(sn)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -101,7 +104,7 @@ func newStubPivKey(t *testing.T, alg symmetricAlgorithm) *stubPivKey {
 		Subject:   pkix.Name{CommonName: "attested certificate"},
 		PublicKey: attSigner.Public(),
 		ExtraExtensions: []pkix.Extension{
-			{Id: oidYubicoSerialNumber, Value: serialNumber},
+			{Id: oidYubicoSerialNumber, Value: snAsn1},
 		},
 	})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -132,6 +135,7 @@ func newStubPivKey(t *testing.T, alg symmetricAlgorithm) *stubPivKey {
 			piv.SlotSignature:      userSigner, // 9c
 		},
 		keyOptionsMap: map[piv.Slot]piv.Key{},
+		serial:        uint32(sn),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -220,6 +224,13 @@ func (s *stubPivKey) Close() error {
 	return s.closeErr
 }
 
+func (s *stubPivKey) Serial() (uint32, error) {
+	if s.serialErr != nil {
+		return 0, s.serialErr
+	}
+	return s.serial, nil
+}
+
 func TestRegister(t *testing.T) {
 	pCards := pivCards
 	t.Cleanup(func() {
@@ -1029,6 +1040,37 @@ func TestYubiKey_CreateAttestation(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestYubiKey_Serial(t *testing.T) {
+	yk1 := newStubPivKey(t, RSA)
+	yk2 := newStubPivKey(t, RSA)
+	yk2.serialErr = errors.New("some error")
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		yk      pivKey
+		want    string
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{"ok", yk1, "112233", false},
+		{"fail", yk2, "", true},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			k := &YubiKey{
+				yk: tt.yk,
+			}
+			got, err := k.Serial()
+			if (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
+				t.Errorf("YubiKey.Serial() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
+				return
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, tt.want) {
+				t.Errorf("YubiKey.Serial() = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestYubiKey_Close(t *testing.T) {
 	yk1 := newStubPivKey(t, ECDSA)
 	yk2 := newStubPivKey(t, RSA)
@@ -1061,7 +1103,7 @@ func TestYubiKey_Close(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func Test_getSerialNumber(t *testing.T) {
+func Test_getAttestedSerial(t *testing.T) {
 	serialNumber, err := asn1.Marshal(112233)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -1107,8 +1149,8 @@ func Test_getSerialNumber(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			if got := getSerialNumber(tt.args.cert); got != tt.want {
-				t.Errorf("getSerialNumber() = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
+			if got := getAttestedSerial(tt.args.cert); got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("getAttestedSerial() = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
 			}
 		})
 	}