diff --git a/coprocessorjs.c b/coprocessorjs.c
index 56cb380..2229c9d 100644
--- a/coprocessorjs.c
+++ b/coprocessorjs.c
@@ -236,6 +236,9 @@ void readSerialPort(char* output) {
         writeSerialPortDebug(boutRefNum, "readSerialPort, enter loop");
     #endif
 
+    // wait a moment for the buffer to fill
+    wait(0.01);
+
     while (!done) {
 
         if (loopCounter++ > MAX_RECIEVE_LOOP_ITERATIONS) {
@@ -339,6 +342,14 @@ void readSerialPort(char* output) {
                 // writeSerialPortDebug(boutRefNum, "\n");
             #endif
 
+            done = true;
+        } else {
+
+            #ifdef DEBUGGING
+                writeSerialPortDebug(boutRefNum, "receive loop complete, but terminator is missing");
+                writeSerialPortDebug(boutRefNum, tempOutput);
+            #endif
+
             done = true;
         }
     }
diff --git a/dist/MessagesForMacintosh.dsk b/dist/MessagesForMacintosh.dsk
index d25b03c..e449bc1 100644
Binary files a/dist/MessagesForMacintosh.dsk and b/dist/MessagesForMacintosh.dsk differ
diff --git a/dist/MessagesForMacintosh.zip b/dist/MessagesForMacintosh.zip
index cbdf5cf..97aa97a 100644
Binary files a/dist/MessagesForMacintosh.zip and b/dist/MessagesForMacintosh.zip differ