diff --git a/pm3py/core/transport.py b/pm3py/core/transport.py
index 8aa46e7..da7c5e9 100644
--- a/pm3py/core/transport.py
+++ b/pm3py/core/transport.py
@@ -278,16 +278,42 @@ class PM3Transport:
             frame = encode_old_frame(cmd, arg0, arg1, arg2, data)
             await self.send_frame(frame)
 
+    async def _drain_input(self, quiet: float = 0.08) -> int:
+        """Discard buffered/stale bytes (a prior partial transaction, or another process that
+        touched the port) so the next request/response starts byte-aligned. OLD-format frames
+        carry no magic to resync on, so a bulk download MUST begin on a clean stream. Returns the
+        number of bytes dropped."""
+        if not self._reader:
+            return 0
+        try:                                           # clear the OS/pyserial buffer too
+            tr = self._writer.transport
+            if hasattr(tr, "serial"):
+                tr.serial.reset_input_buffer()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        dropped = 0
+        while True:
+            try:
+                chunk = await asyncio.wait_for(self._reader.read(4096), timeout=quiet)
+            except (asyncio.TimeoutError, Exception):
+                break
+            if not chunk:
+                break
+            dropped += len(chunk)
+        return dropped
+
     async def download_bulk(self, cmd: int, start: int, count: int, data_cmd: int,
                             ack_cmd: int, timeout: float = 5.0, on_bytes=None) -> bytes:
         """Run a bulk BigBuf/EML/SPIFFS download and return the concatenated bytes.
 
         The firmware answers one download request (a MIX frame) by streaming ``count`` bytes as
         a run of *OLD*-format ``data_cmd`` frames (no magic — that's why the plain NG reader
-        can't see them and the naive download hangs), then a final ``ack_cmd`` frame. We read
-        with the NG/OLD-agnostic reader until the ACK, or until we've collected ``count`` bytes
-        (draining the trailing ACK best-effort so it can't poison the next command)."""
+        can't see them and the naive download hangs), then a final ``ack_cmd`` frame. We flush
+        any stale input first (OLD frames can't resync mid-stream), then read with the NG/OLD-
+        agnostic reader until the ACK, or until we've collected ``count`` bytes (draining the
+        trailing ACK best-effort so it can't poison the next command)."""
         async with self._lock:
+            await self._drain_input()                  # start byte-aligned — no stale frames
             await self.send_frame(encode_mix_frame(cmd, start, count, 0))
             buf = bytearray()
             while True:
diff --git a/tests/test_transport.py b/tests/test_transport.py
index 6ca476c..c1343e9 100644
--- a/tests/test_transport.py
+++ b/tests/test_transport.py
@@ -133,3 +133,21 @@ def test_download_bulk_uses_oldarg_length_not_padding():
     t = _transport_with([_bigbuf_frame(0, b"\xAA\xBB\xCC"), _ack()])
     got = _run(t.download_bulk(Cmd.DOWNLOAD_BIGBUF, 0, 3, Cmd.DOWNLOADED_BIGBUF, Cmd.ACK))
     assert got == b"\xAA\xBB\xCC"               # trimmed to oldarg length, not 512 of padding
+
+
+def test_download_bulk_drains_stale_input_first():
+    # a bulk download must flush stale bytes before sending, so OLD frames start byte-aligned
+    payload = bytes(range(100))
+    t = _transport_with([_bigbuf_frame(0, payload), _ack()])
+    calls = []
+    async def fake_drain(quiet=0.08):
+        calls.append("drain")
+        return 7
+    orig_send = t.send_frame
+    async def tracking_send(frame):
+        calls.append("send")
+        return await orig_send(frame)
+    t._drain_input = fake_drain
+    t.send_frame = tracking_send
+    _run(t.download_bulk(Cmd.DOWNLOAD_BIGBUF, 0, 100, Cmd.DOWNLOADED_BIGBUF, Cmd.ACK))
+    assert calls[0] == "drain" and calls[1] == "send"   # drained BEFORE the request went out