diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index b5ab3da..c80caf6 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "vban-cmd"
-version = "2.9.5"
+version = "2.9.6"
 description = "Python interface for the VBAN RT Packet Service (Sendtext)"
 authors = [{ name = "Onyx and Iris", email = "code@onyxandiris.online" }]
 license = { text = "MIT" }
diff --git a/vban_cmd/util.py b/vban_cmd/util.py
index a0309bb..bb8b4e4 100644
--- a/vban_cmd/util.py
+++ b/vban_cmd/util.py
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ def ratelimit(func):
     return wrapper
 
 
-def ping_timeout(func):
-    """ping_timeout decorator for {VbanCmd}._ping, to handle timeout logic and socket management."""
+def pong_timeout(func):
+    """pong_timeout decorator for {VbanCmd}._handle_pong, to handle timeout logic and socket management."""
 
     def wrapper(self, timeout: float = None):
         if timeout is None:
@@ -32,25 +32,14 @@ def ping_timeout(func):
         self.sock.settimeout(0.5)
 
         try:
-            func(self)
-
             start_time = time.time()
             response_count = 0
 
             while time.time() - start_time < timeout:
                 try:
-                    data, addr = self.sock.recvfrom(2048)
                     response_count += 1
 
-                    self.logger.debug(
-                        f'Received packet #{response_count} from {addr}: {len(data)} bytes'
-                    )
-                    self.logger.debug(
-                        f'Response header: {data[: min(32, len(data))].hex()}'
-                    )
-
-                    result = func(self, data, addr)
-                    if result is True:
+                    if func(self):
                         return
 
                 except socket.timeout:
diff --git a/vban_cmd/vbancmd.py b/vban_cmd/vbancmd.py
index 8a402cf..392e816 100644
--- a/vban_cmd/vbancmd.py
+++ b/vban_cmd/vbancmd.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from .packet.headers import (
 )
 from .packet.ping0 import VbanPing0Payload, VbanServerType
 from .subject import Subject
-from .util import bump_framecounter, deep_merge, ping_timeout, ratelimit
+from .util import bump_framecounter, deep_merge, pong_timeout, ratelimit
 from .worker import Producer, Subscriber, Updater
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ class VbanCmd(abc.ABC):
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def __str__(self):
         """Ensure subclasses override str magic method"""
-        pass
 
     def _conn_from_toml(self) -> dict:
         try:
@@ -97,6 +96,7 @@ class VbanCmd(abc.ABC):
         If the server is detected as Matrix, RT listeners will be disabled for compatibility.
         """
         self._ping()
+        self._handle_pong()
 
         if not self.disable_rt_listeners:
             self.event.info()
@@ -138,30 +138,27 @@ class VbanCmd(abc.ABC):
             self._framecounter = bump_framecounter(self._framecounter)
             return current
 
-    @ping_timeout
-    def _ping(self, data=None, addr=None) -> bool:
-        """Handles the PING/PONG handshake with the VBAN server, including timeout logic and server type detection.
+    def _ping(self):
+        """Initiates the PING/PONG handshake with the VBAN server."""
+        ping_packet = VbanPing0Payload.create_packet(self._get_next_framecounter())
 
-        If data and addr are None, it sends a PING packet. If a PONG response is received, it returns True.
+        try:
+            self.sock.sendto(ping_packet, (socket.gethostbyname(self.host), self.port))
+            self.logger.debug(f'PING sent to {self.host}:{self.port}')
 
-        If a non-PONG packet is received, it logs the packet details and continues waiting until timeout"""
-        if data is None and addr is None:
-            ping_packet = VbanPing0Payload.create_packet(self._get_next_framecounter())
+        except socket.gaierror as e:
+            raise VBANCMDConnectionError(
+                f'Unable to resolve hostname {self.host}'
+            ) from e
+        except Exception as e:
+            raise VBANCMDConnectionError(f'PING failed: {e}') from e
 
-            try:
-                self.sock.sendto(
-                    ping_packet, (socket.gethostbyname(self.host), self.port)
-                )
-                self.logger.debug(f'PING sent to {self.host}:{self.port}')
+    @pong_timeout
+    def _handle_pong(self) -> bool:
+        """Handles incoming packets during the PING/PONG handshake, looking for a valid PONG response to confirm connectivity and detect server type.
 
-            except socket.gaierror as e:
-                raise VBANCMDConnectionError(
-                    f'Unable to resolve hostname {self.host}'
-                ) from e
-            except Exception as e:
-                raise VBANCMDConnectionError(f'PING failed: {e}') from e
-
-            return False
+        Returns True if a valid PONG is received, False otherwise."""
+        data, addr = self.sock.recvfrom(2048)
 
         if VbanPongHeader.is_pong_response(data):
             self.logger.debug(f'PONG received from {addr}, connectivity confirmed')