diff --git a/esp_rfc2217_server.py b/esp_rfc2217_server.py
index 9cf116aa2..8b9a1678e 100755
--- a/esp_rfc2217_server.py
+++ b/esp_rfc2217_server.py
@@ -37,7 +37,13 @@
 import time
 
 from esptool.config import load_config_file
-from esptool.reset import ClassicReset, CustomReset, DEFAULT_RESET_DELAY, UnixTightReset
+from esptool.reset import (
+    ClassicReset,
+    CustomReset,
+    DEFAULT_RESET_DELAY,
+    HardReset,
+    UnixTightReset,
+)
 
 import serial
 import serial.rfc2217
@@ -63,14 +69,23 @@ class EspPortManager(serial.rfc2217.PortManager):
 
     def __init__(self, serial_port, connection, esp32r0_delay, logger=None):
         self.esp32r0_delay = esp32r0_delay
+        self.is_download_mode = False
         super(EspPortManager, self).__init__(serial_port, connection, logger)
 
     def _telnet_process_subnegotiation(self, suboption):
         if suboption[0:1] == COM_PORT_OPTION and suboption[1:2] == SET_CONTROL:
             if suboption[2:3] == SET_CONTROL_DTR_OFF:
+                self.is_download_mode = False
                 self.serial.dtr = False
                 return
-            elif suboption[2:3] == SET_CONTROL_RTS_ON and not self.serial.dtr:
+            elif suboption[2:3] == SET_CONTROL_RTS_OFF and not self.is_download_mode:
+                reset_thread = threading.Thread(target=self._hard_reset_thread)
+                reset_thread.daemon = True
+                reset_thread.name = "hard_reset_thread"
+                reset_thread.start()
+                return
+            elif suboption[2:3] == SET_CONTROL_DTR_ON and not self.is_download_mode:
+                self.is_download_mode = True
                 reset_thread = threading.Thread(target=self._reset_thread)
                 reset_thread.daemon = True
                 reset_thread.name = "reset_thread"
@@ -85,6 +100,14 @@ def _telnet_process_subnegotiation(self, suboption):
         # only in cases not handled above do the original implementation in PortManager
         super(EspPortManager, self)._telnet_process_subnegotiation(suboption)
 
+    def _hard_reset_thread(self):
+        """
+        The reset logic used for hard resetting the chip.
+        """
+        if self.logger:
+            self.logger.info("Activating hard reset in thread")
+        HardReset(self.serial)()
+
     def _reset_thread(self):
         """
         The reset logic is used from esptool.py because the RTS and DTR signals