diff --git a/src/mantarray_desktop_app/simulators/mc_simulator.py b/src/mantarray_desktop_app/simulators/mc_simulator.py
index df674533..0efba861 100644
--- a/src/mantarray_desktop_app/simulators/mc_simulator.py
+++ b/src/mantarray_desktop_app/simulators/mc_simulator.py
@@ -815,8 +815,9 @@ def read_all(self) -> bytes:
         """Read all available bytes from the simulator."""
         return self._read()
 
-    def write(self, input_item: bytes) -> None:
+    def write(self, input_item: bytes) -> int:
         self._input_queue.put_nowait(input_item)
+        return len(input_item)
 
     def _drain_all_queues(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         queue_items = {
diff --git a/src/mantarray_desktop_app/sub_processes/mc_comm.py b/src/mantarray_desktop_app/sub_processes/mc_comm.py
index 64bbc7d4..3b6d56c5 100644
--- a/src/mantarray_desktop_app/sub_processes/mc_comm.py
+++ b/src/mantarray_desktop_app/sub_processes/mc_comm.py
@@ -461,7 +461,15 @@ def _send_data_packet(
         board = self._board_connections[board_idx]
         if board is None:
             raise NotImplementedError("Board should not be None when sending a command to it")
-        board.write(data_packet)
+
+        write_len = board.write(data_packet)
+        if write_len == 0:
+            put_log_message_into_queue(
+                logging.INFO,
+                "Serial data write reporting no bytes written",
+                self._board_queues[board_idx][1],
+                self.get_logging_level(),
+            )
 
     def _commands_for_each_run_iteration(self) -> None:
         """Ordered actions to perform each iteration.
@@ -1028,7 +1036,7 @@ def _handle_data_stream(self) -> None:
         except serial.SerialException as e:
             put_log_message_into_queue(
                 logging.INFO,
-                f"Data read failed: {repr(e)}. Trying one more time",
+                f"Serial data read failed: {repr(e)}. Trying one more time",
                 self._board_queues[board_idx][1],
                 self.get_logging_level(),
             )