diff --git a/openbsc/include/openbsc/control_cmd.h b/openbsc/include/openbsc/control_cmd.h
index 725dce061..8aede15df 100644
--- a/openbsc/include/openbsc/control_cmd.h
+++ b/openbsc/include/openbsc/control_cmd.h
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ struct ctrl_connection {
 	/* The queue for sending data back */
 	struct osmo_wqueue write_queue;
 
+	/* Buffer for partial input data */
+	struct msgb *pending_msg;
+
 	/* Callback if the connection was closed */
 	void (*closed_cb)(struct ctrl_connection *conn);
 
diff --git a/openbsc/src/libctrl/control_if.c b/openbsc/src/libctrl/control_if.c
index 2727d0dd3..ca59d8c6d 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/libctrl/control_if.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/libctrl/control_if.c
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ static void control_close_conn(struct ctrl_connection *ccon)
 	llist_del(&ccon->list_entry);
 	if (ccon->closed_cb)
 		ccon->closed_cb(ccon);
+	msgb_free(ccon->pending_msg);
 	talloc_free(ccon);
 }
 
@@ -140,8 +141,10 @@ static int handle_control_read(struct osmo_fd * bfd)
 	queue = container_of(bfd, struct osmo_wqueue, bfd);
 	ccon = container_of(queue, struct ctrl_connection, write_queue);
 
-	ret = ipa_msg_recv(bfd->fd, &msg);
+	ret = ipa_msg_recv_buffered(bfd->fd, &msg, &ccon->pending_msg);
 	if (ret <= 0) {
+		if (ret == -EAGAIN)
+			return 0;
 		if (ret == 0)
 			LOGP(DCTRL, LOGL_INFO, "The control connection was closed\n");
 		else