diff --git a/uCNC/src/modules/softuart.c b/uCNC/src/modules/softuart.c
index 5ef799ae6..cf5b52ea8 100644
--- a/uCNC/src/modules/softuart.c
+++ b/uCNC/src/modules/softuart.c
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ int16_t softuart_getc(softuart_port_t *port, uint32_t ms_timeout)
 			return 0;
 		}
 
-		return mcu_uart2_getc();
+		val = mcu_uart2_getc();
 #endif
 	}
 	else
@@ -82,6 +82,11 @@ int16_t softuart_getc(softuart_port_t *port, uint32_t ms_timeout)
 			}
 		}
 
+		__TIMEOUT_ASSERT__(ms_timeout)
+		{
+			return 0;
+		}
+
 		port->waithalf();
 
 		uint8_t bits = 8;
@@ -99,10 +104,5 @@ int16_t softuart_getc(softuart_port_t *port, uint32_t ms_timeout)
 		port->waithalf();
 	}
 
-	__TIMEOUT_ASSERT__(ms_timeout)
-	{
-		return 0;
-	}
-
 	return (int16_t)val;
 }
diff --git a/uCNC/src/utils.h b/uCNC/src/utils.h
index 514bdb32e..9410b7ccc 100644
--- a/uCNC/src/utils.h
+++ b/uCNC/src/utils.h
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ extern "C"
 
 #define __TIMEOUT_US__(timeout) for (int32_t elap_us_##timeout, curr_us_##timeout = mcu_free_micros(); ((int32_t)timeout) >= 0; elap_us_##timeout = mcu_free_micros() - curr_us_##timeout, timeout -= ABS(elap_us_##timeout), curr_us_##timeout = mcu_free_micros())
 #define __TIMEOUT_MS__(timeout) timeout*=1000; __TIMEOUT_US__(timeout)
-#define __TIMEOUT_ASSERT__(timeout) if(timeout < 0)
+#define __TIMEOUT_ASSERT__(timeout) if(((int32_t)timeout) < 0)
 
 #if defined(__GNUC__) && __GNUC__ >= 7
  #define __FALL_THROUGH__ __attribute__ ((fallthrough));