diff --git a/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/stk500v1.c b/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/stk500v1.c
index 51db2b8..8b74b32 100644
--- a/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/stk500v1.c
+++ b/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/stk500v1.c
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ static bool read_exact(uint8_t *buf, size_t resp_len, uint32_t timeout_ms)
         int n = usb_host_read_cdc(buf + got, resp_len - got, chunk_to);
         if (n < 0) {
             ESP_LOGD(TAG, "read_exact: got %d/%d (n=%d)", (int)got, (int)resp_len, n);
+            if (!usb_host_arduino_connected()) {
+                ESP_LOGE(TAG, "read_exact: device disconnected mid-read");
+                return false;
+            }
             continue;
         }
         if (n > 0) {
@@ -210,8 +214,15 @@ bool stk500v1_flash_buffer(const uint8_t *buffer, size_t size, uint16_t page_siz
     ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Starting flash: %d bytes, page %d", (int)size, page_size);
 
     /* 1. Auto-reset Arduino to (re)enter optiboot. */
+    if (!usb_host_arduino_connected()) {
+        ESP_LOGE(TAG, "flash_buffer: Arduino not connected — abort before reset");
+        return false;
+    }
     usb_host_reset_arduino();
 
+    /* 1b. Drain any stale bytes left in CDC ringbuffer from prior serial bridge session. */
+    usb_host_drain_cdc(256, 50);
+
     /* 2. Get sync (retry within optiboot ~1s window). */
     if (!cmd_get_sync()) {
         return false;
diff --git a/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/stk500v1.h b/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/stk500v1.h
index 98d1ee7..cf829ec 100644
--- a/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/stk500v1.h
+++ b/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/stk500v1.h
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@
 #define ATMEGA328P_PAGE_SIZE    128    /* bytes */
 
 /* Timing / retries */
-#define STK_SYNC_RETRIES        10    /* get_sync attempts (optiboot window ~1s) */
-#define STK_CMD_TIMEOUT_MS      200   /* per-command response timeout */
+#define STK_SYNC_RETRIES        20    /* was 10 — give cold-boot optiboot more chances */
+#define STK_CMD_TIMEOUT_MS      250   /* was 200 — slightly more per-attempt slack */
 #define STK_PAGE_TIMEOUT_MS     500   /* prog_page timeout (page write ~4ms) */
 #define STK_LEAVE_TIMEOUT_MS    100   /* leave_progmode (OK may be absent) */
 
diff --git a/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/usb_host.c b/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/usb_host.c
index d81a0bc..325bccf 100644
--- a/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/usb_host.c
+++ b/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/usb_host.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include "esp_log.h"
+#include "esp_timer.h"
 #include "freertos/FreeRTOS.h"
 #include "freertos/task.h"
 #include "usbh_core.h"
@@ -163,6 +164,23 @@ int usb_host_read_cdc(uint8_t *buf, size_t len, uint32_t timeout_ms)
     return ret;  /* >=0 bytes, <0 on error/timeout */
 }
 
+/* Drain up to N bytes from CDC ringbuffer with short timeout. Returns bytes drained. */
+size_t usb_host_drain_cdc(size_t max_bytes, uint32_t total_ms)
+{
+    size_t total = 0;
+    int64_t deadline = esp_timer_get_time() + (int64_t)total_ms * 1000;
+    uint8_t buf[64];
+    while (total < max_bytes && esp_timer_get_time() < deadline) {
+        int n = usb_host_read_cdc(buf, sizeof(buf), 10);
+        if (n <= 0) break;
+        total += (size_t)n;
+    }
+    if (total > 0) {
+        ESP_LOGI(TAG, "drained %d stale bytes from CDC", (int)total);
+    }
+    return total;
+}
+
 void usb_host_set_serial_callback(usb_data_cb_t cb)
 {
     serial_callback = cb;
@@ -209,19 +227,22 @@ void usb_host_reset_arduino(void)
         ESP_LOGW(TAG, "reset_arduino: no device — skipping DTR pulse");
         return;
     }
-
-    /* Drive DTR+RTS low to assert RESET (Arduino autoreset circuit).
-     * TIOCMSET expects a pointer to uint32_t flags — NEVER pass flags
-     * cast directly as the pointer (that was bug B10, a NULL+small deref). */
+    /* Mirrors avrdude stk500v1 + frontend USBHardwareDeployer.resetArduino.
+     * 100nF/10kΩ RC on Uno R3 (~1ms τ) needs DTR low long enough to pull RESET
+     * below V_IL reliably across CH340/CP2102 clones.
+     * Sequence: DTR+RTS low (50ms) -> high -> settle 100ms for optiboot. */
     uint32_t flags_low = 0;
     usbh_serial_control(serial_dev, USBH_SERIAL_CMD_TIOCMSET, &flags_low);
-    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(1));
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "reset_arduino: DTR/RTS low (asserting RESET)");
+    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(50));
 
     uint32_t flags_high = USBH_SERIAL_TIOCM_DTR | USBH_SERIAL_TIOCM_RTS;
     usbh_serial_control(serial_dev, USBH_SERIAL_CMD_TIOCMSET, &flags_high);
-    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(50));
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "reset_arduino: DTR/RTS high (releasing RESET)");
 
-    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Arduino DTR pulse sent (autoreset)");
+    vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(100));
+
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "reset_arduino: DTR pulse done (autoreset, 150ms total)");
 }
 
 void usb_host_set_baud_rate(uint32_t baud)
diff --git a/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/usb_host.h b/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/usb_host.h
index 9ddb846..67cfb48 100644
--- a/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/usb_host.h
+++ b/velxio-deployer-firmware/main/usb_host.h
@@ -54,6 +54,18 @@ bool usb_host_write_cdc(const uint8_t *data, size_t len);
  */
 int usb_host_read_cdc(uint8_t *buf, size_t len, uint32_t timeout_ms);
 
+/**
+ * @brief Drain up to N stale bytes from CDC ringbuffer with short timeout.
+ *
+ * Reads and discards bytes left in the CherryUSB ringbuffer from a prior
+ * serial bridge session. Returns number of bytes drained.
+ *
+ * @param max_bytes Maximum bytes to drain
+ * @param total_ms  Total time budget for draining
+ * @return number of bytes drained
+ */
+size_t usb_host_drain_cdc(size_t max_bytes, uint32_t total_ms);
+
 /**
  * @brief Register callback for incoming CDC serial data (serial bridge).
  */