diff --git a/libraries/AP_IOMCU/AP_IOMCU.cpp b/libraries/AP_IOMCU/AP_IOMCU.cpp
index 10aba70755..c92ddce437 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_IOMCU/AP_IOMCU.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_IOMCU/AP_IOMCU.cpp
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ void AP_IOMCU::thread_main(void)
     // uart runs at 1.5MBit
     uart.begin(1500*1000, 256, 256);
     uart.set_blocking_writes(false);
+    uart.set_unbuffered_writes(true);
 
     trigger_event(IOEVENT_INIT);