diff --git a/src/main/drivers/serial_softserial.c b/src/main/drivers/serial_softserial.c
index f5ed4d593..a2ad403b2 100644
--- a/src/main/drivers/serial_softserial.c
+++ b/src/main/drivers/serial_softserial.c
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ void onSerialRxPinChange(timerCCHandlerRec_t *cbRec, captureCompare_t capture)
     }
 }
 
-uint8_t softSerialRxBytesWaiting(serialPort_t *instance)
+uint32_t softSerialRxBytesWaiting(serialPort_t *instance)
 {
     if ((instance->mode & MODE_RX) == 0) {
         return 0;
diff --git a/src/main/drivers/serial_softserial.h b/src/main/drivers/serial_softserial.h
index daa9c5c64..af80423b0 100644
--- a/src/main/drivers/serial_softserial.h
+++ b/src/main/drivers/serial_softserial.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ serialPort_t *openSoftSerial(softSerialPortIndex_e portIndex, serialReceiveCallb
 
 // serialPort API
 void softSerialWriteByte(serialPort_t *instance, uint8_t ch);
-uint8_t softSerialRxBytesWaiting(serialPort_t *instance);
+uint32_t softSerialRxBytesWaiting(serialPort_t *instance);
 uint8_t softSerialTxBytesFree(serialPort_t *instance);
 uint8_t softSerialReadByte(serialPort_t *instance);
 void softSerialSetBaudRate(serialPort_t *s, uint32_t baudRate);