diff --git a/core/network/src/androidMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/network/repository/SerialConnectionImpl.kt b/core/network/src/androidMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/network/repository/SerialConnectionImpl.kt
index b2ccf6545..d8b14be03 100644
--- a/core/network/src/androidMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/network/repository/SerialConnectionImpl.kt
+++ b/core/network/src/androidMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/network/repository/SerialConnectionImpl.kt
@@ -87,6 +87,11 @@ internal class SerialConnectionImpl(
 
         port.open(usbDeviceConnection)
         port.setParameters(115200, UsbSerialPort.DATABITS_8, UsbSerialPort.STOPBITS_1, UsbSerialPort.PARITY_NONE)
+
+        // Assert DTR/RTS so native USB-CDC firmware (RAK4631 / nRF52840) recognizes the host as
+        // present and starts its serial-side Meshtastic protocol. Empirically, omitting these
+        // signals causes the firmware to never respond to WAKE_BYTES, stalling the handshake at
+        // Stage 1. Bridge-chip boards (CH340, CP210x, FTDI) tolerate the assertion.
         port.dtr = true
         port.rts = true