diff --git a/src/gdbserver.rs b/src/gdbserver.rs
index 4f0a78d..97171e0 100644
--- a/src/gdbserver.rs
+++ b/src/gdbserver.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 use anyhow::{bail, Result};
+use request::{Request, RequestKind};
+use response::Response;
 use std::{
     sync::{Arc, Mutex},
     thread,
 };
 use tokio::{
-    io::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt as _, BufReader, BufWriter},
+    io::{AsyncWriteExt as _, BufReader, BufWriter},
     net::{
         tcp::{OwnedReadHalf, OwnedWriteHalf},
         TcpListener, TcpStream,
@@ -15,6 +17,9 @@ use tokio::{
 
 use crate::emulator::{EmulatorClient, EmulatorCommand, SimId};
 
+mod request;
+mod response;
+
 pub struct GdbServer {
     sim_id: SimId,
     client: EmulatorClient,
@@ -126,6 +131,8 @@ struct GdbConnection {
     stream_in: BufReader<OwnedReadHalf>,
     stream_out: BufWriter<OwnedWriteHalf>,
     ack_messages: bool,
+    request_buf: Vec<u8>,
+    response_buf: Option<Vec<u8>>,
 }
 
 impl GdbConnection {
@@ -137,208 +144,94 @@ impl GdbConnection {
             stream_in: BufReader::new(rx),
             stream_out: BufWriter::new(tx),
             ack_messages: true,
+            request_buf: vec![],
+            response_buf: None,
         }
     }
     async fn run(mut self) -> Result<()> {
         println!("Connected for {}", self.sim_id);
         self.client.send_command(EmulatorCommand::Pause);
         loop {
-            let message = self.read_message().await?;
-            println!("received {:?}", message);
+            let mut req = Request::read(&mut self.stream_in, &mut self.request_buf).await?;
+            println!("received {:?}", req);
 
-            //let mut res = ResponseWriter::new(&mut self.stream_out);
-            //res.init(self.ack_messages).await?;
+            if req.kind == RequestKind::Signal {
+                self.client.send_command(EmulatorCommand::Pause);
+                let res = self
+                    .response()
+                    .write_str("T05;thread:p1.t1;threads:p1.t1;reason:trap;");
+                self.send(res).await?;
+                continue;
+            }
 
-            let body = match &message {
-                Message::String(str) => str.as_str(),
-                Message::Signal => {
-                    self.client.send_command(EmulatorCommand::Pause);
-                    let mut res = self.respond().await?;
-                    res.write_str("T05;thread:p1.t1;threads:p1.t1;reason:trap;")
-                        .await?;
-                    res.send().await?;
-                    continue;
-                }
-            };
-
-            if body == "QStartNoAckMode" {
-                let mut res = ResponseWriter::new(&mut self.stream_out);
-                res.init(self.ack_messages).await?;
+            if req.match_str("QStartNoAckMode") {
+                let res = self.response().write_str("OK");
+                self.send(res).await?;
                 self.ack_messages = false;
-                res.send_ok().await?;
-            } else if body.starts_with("qSupported:") {
-                let mut res = self.respond().await?;
-                res.write_str("multiprocess+;swbreak+;vContSupported+")
-                    .await?;
-                res.send().await?;
-            } else if body == "QThreadSuffixSupported"
-                || body == "QListThreadsInStopReply"
-                || body == "QEnableErrorStrings"
+            } else if req.match_str("qSupported:") {
+                let res = self
+                    .response()
+                    .write_str("multiprocess+;swbreak+;vContSupported+");
+                self.send(res).await?;
+            } else if req.match_str("QThreadSuffixSupported")
+                || req.match_str("QListThreadsInStopReply")
+                || req.match_str("QEnableErrorStrings")
             {
-                let res = self.respond().await?;
-                res.send_ok().await?;
-            } else if body == "qHostInfo" {
-                let mut res = self.respond().await?;
-                res.write_str(&format!(
+                let res = self.response().write_str("OK");
+                self.send(res).await?;
+            } else if req.match_str("qHostInfo") {
+                let res = self.response().write_str(&format!(
                     "triple:{};endian:little;ptrsize:4;",
                     hex::encode("v810-unknown-vb")
-                ))
-                .await?;
-                res.send().await?;
-            } else if body == "qProcessInfo" {
-                let mut res = self.respond().await?;
-                res.write_str(&format!(
+                ));
+                self.send(res).await?;
+            } else if req.match_str("qProcessInfo") {
+                let res = self.response().write_str(&format!(
                     "pid:1;triple:{};endian:little;ptrsize:4;",
                     hex::encode("v810-unknown-vb")
-                ))
-                .await?;
-                res.send().await?;
-            } else if body == "vCont?" {
-                let mut res = self.respond().await?;
-                res.write_str("vCont;c;").await?;
-                res.send().await?;
-            } else if body == "qC" {
+                ));
+                self.send(res).await?;
+            } else if req.match_str("vCont?") {
+                let res = self.response().write_str("vCont;c;");
+                self.send(res).await?;
+            } else if req.match_str("qC") {
                 // The v810 has no threads, so report that the "current thread" is 1.
-                let mut res = self.respond().await?;
-                res.write_str("QCp1.t1").await?;
-                res.send().await?;
-            } else if body == "qfThreadInfo" {
-                let mut res = self.respond().await?;
-                res.write_str("mp1.t1").await?;
-                res.send().await?;
-            } else if body == "qsThreadInfo" {
-                let mut res = self.respond().await?;
-                res.write_str("l").await?;
-                res.send().await?;
-            } else if body == "k" {
+                let res = self.response().write_str("QCp1.t1");
+                self.send(res).await?;
+            } else if req.match_str("qfThreadInfo") {
+                let res = self.response().write_str("mp1.t1");
+                self.send(res).await?;
+            } else if req.match_str("qsThreadInfo") {
+                let res = self.response().write_str("l");
+                self.send(res).await?;
+            } else if req.match_str("k") {
                 bail!("debug process was killed");
-            } else if body == "?" {
-                let mut res = self.respond().await?;
-                res.write_str("T00;thread:p1.t1;threads:p1.t1;").await?;
-                res.send().await?;
-            } else if body == "c" || body.starts_with("vCont;c:") {
-                // Continue running the game until we're interrupted again
+            } else if req.match_str("?") {
+                let res = self.response().write_str("T00;thread:p1.t1;threads:p1.t1;");
+                self.send(res).await?;
+            } else if req.match_str("c") || req.match_str("vCont;c:") {
                 self.client.send_command(EmulatorCommand::Resume);
-                continue;
+                // Don't send a response until we hit a breakpoint or get interrupted
             } else {
                 // unrecognized command
-                let res = self.respond().await?;
-                res.send().await?;
+                let res = self.response();
+                self.send(res).await?;
             }
         }
     }
 
-    async fn read_message(&mut self) -> Result<Message> {
-        let mut char = self.read_byte().await?;
-        while char == b'+' {
-            // just ignore positive acks
-            char = self.read_byte().await?;
-        }
-        if char == b'-' {
-            bail!("no support for negative acks");
-        }
-        if char == 0x03 {
-            // This is how the client "cancels an in-flight request"
-            return Ok(Message::Signal);
-        }
-        if char != b'$' {
-            // Messages are supposed to start with a dollar sign
-            bail!("malformed message");
-        }
-
-        // now read the body
-        let mut checksum = 0u8;
-        let mut body = vec![];
-        char = self.read_byte().await?;
-        while char != b'#' {
-            if char == b'}' {
-                // escape character
-                checksum = checksum.wrapping_add(char);
-                char = self.read_byte().await?;
-                checksum = checksum.wrapping_add(char);
-                body.push(char ^ 0x20);
-            } else {
-                checksum = checksum.wrapping_add(char);
-                body.push(char);
-            }
-            char = self.read_byte().await?;
-        }
-
-        let mut checksum_bytes = [b'0'; 2];
-        self.stream_in.read_exact(&mut checksum_bytes).await?;
-        let checksum_str = std::str::from_utf8(&checksum_bytes)?;
-        let real_checksum = u8::from_str_radix(checksum_str, 16)?;
-        if checksum != real_checksum {
-            bail!("invalid checksum");
-        }
-
-        let string = String::from_utf8(body)?;
-        Ok(Message::String(string))
+    fn response(&mut self) -> Response {
+        Response::new(
+            self.response_buf.take().unwrap_or_default(),
+            self.ack_messages,
+        )
     }
 
-    async fn read_byte(&mut self) -> std::io::Result<u8> {
-        self.stream_in.read_u8().await
-    }
-
-    async fn respond(&mut self) -> std::io::Result<ResponseWriter<'_>> {
-        let mut res = ResponseWriter::new(&mut self.stream_out);
-        res.init(self.ack_messages).await?;
-        Ok(res)
+    async fn send(&mut self, res: Response) -> std::io::Result<()> {
+        let buffer = res.finish();
+        println!("{:?}", std::str::from_utf8(&buffer));
+        self.stream_out.write_all(&buffer).await?;
+        self.response_buf = Some(buffer);
+        self.stream_out.flush().await
     }
 }
-
-struct ResponseWriter<'a> {
-    inner: &'a mut BufWriter<OwnedWriteHalf>,
-    checksum: u8,
-}
-impl<'a> ResponseWriter<'a> {
-    fn new(inner: &'a mut BufWriter<OwnedWriteHalf>) -> Self {
-        Self { inner, checksum: 0 }
-    }
-
-    async fn init(&mut self, ack: bool) -> std::io::Result<()> {
-        if ack {
-            self.inner.write_u8(b'+').await?;
-        }
-        self.inner.write_u8(b'$').await
-    }
-
-    async fn write_str(&mut self, str: &str) -> std::io::Result<()> {
-        for byte in str.bytes() {
-            self.checksum = self.checksum.wrapping_add(byte);
-        }
-        self.inner.write_all(str.as_bytes()).await
-    }
-
-    async fn write_hex_u8(&mut self, value: u8) -> std::io::Result<()> {
-        for digit in [(value >> 4), (value & 0xf)] {
-            let char = if digit > 9 {
-                b'a' + digit - 10
-            } else {
-                b'0' + digit
-            };
-            self.checksum = self.checksum.wrapping_add(char);
-            self.inner.write_u8(char).await?;
-        }
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
-    async fn send_ok(mut self) -> std::io::Result<()> {
-        self.write_str("OK").await?;
-        self.send().await
-    }
-
-    async fn send(mut self) -> std::io::Result<()> {
-        let final_checksum = self.checksum;
-        self.inner.write_u8(b'#').await?;
-        self.write_hex_u8(final_checksum).await?;
-        println!("{:?}", std::str::from_utf8(self.inner.buffer()));
-        self.inner.flush().await
-    }
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug)]
-enum Message {
-    String(String),
-    Signal,
-}
diff --git a/src/gdbserver/request.rs b/src/gdbserver/request.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..63f66e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gdbserver/request.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+use anyhow::{bail, Result};
+use tokio::io::{AsyncRead, AsyncReadExt as _};
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum RequestKind {
+    Signal,
+    Command,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct Request<'a> {
+    pub kind: RequestKind,
+    body: &'a str,
+}
+
+impl<'a> Request<'a> {
+    pub async fn read<R: AsyncRead + Unpin>(
+        reader: &mut R,
+        buffer: &'a mut Vec<u8>,
+    ) -> Result<Self> {
+        buffer.clear();
+
+        let mut char = reader.read_u8().await?;
+        while char == b'+' {
+            // just ignore positive acks
+            char = reader.read_u8().await?;
+        }
+        if char == b'-' {
+            bail!("no support for negative acks");
+        }
+        if char == 0x03 {
+            // This is how the client "cancels an in-flight request"
+            buffer.push(char);
+            let body = std::str::from_utf8(buffer)?;
+            return Ok(Self {
+                kind: RequestKind::Signal,
+                body,
+            });
+        }
+        if char != b'$' {
+            // Messages are supposed to start with a dollar sign
+            bail!("malformed message");
+        }
+
+        // now read the body
+        let mut checksum = 0u8;
+        char = reader.read_u8().await?;
+        while char != b'#' {
+            if char == b'}' {
+                // escape character
+                checksum = checksum.wrapping_add(char);
+                char = reader.read_u8().await?;
+                checksum = checksum.wrapping_add(char);
+                buffer.push(char ^ 0x20);
+            } else {
+                checksum = checksum.wrapping_add(char);
+                buffer.push(char);
+            }
+            char = reader.read_u8().await?;
+        }
+
+        let mut checksum_bytes = [b'0'; 2];
+        reader.read_exact(&mut checksum_bytes).await?;
+        let checksum_str = std::str::from_utf8(&checksum_bytes)?;
+        let real_checksum = u8::from_str_radix(checksum_str, 16)?;
+        if checksum != real_checksum {
+            bail!("invalid checksum");
+        }
+
+        let body = std::str::from_utf8(buffer)?;
+        Ok(Self {
+            kind: RequestKind::Command,
+            body,
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn match_str(&mut self, prefix: &str) -> bool {
+        if let Some(new_body) = self.body.strip_prefix(prefix) {
+            self.body = new_body;
+            return true;
+        }
+        false
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/gdbserver/response.rs b/src/gdbserver/response.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdd9220
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gdbserver/response.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+pub struct Response {
+    buffer: Vec<u8>,
+    checksum: u8,
+}
+
+impl Response {
+    pub fn new(mut buffer: Vec<u8>, ack: bool) -> Self {
+        buffer.clear();
+        if ack {
+            buffer.push(b'+');
+        }
+        buffer.push(b'$');
+        Self {
+            buffer,
+            checksum: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn write_str(mut self, str: &str) -> Self {
+        for char in str.as_bytes() {
+            self.buffer.push(*char);
+            self.checksum = self.checksum.wrapping_add(*char);
+        }
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn write_hex_u8(mut self, value: u8) -> Self {
+        for digit in [(value >> 4), (value & 0xf)] {
+            let char = if digit > 9 {
+                b'a' + digit - 10
+            } else {
+                b'0' + digit
+            };
+            self.buffer.push(char);
+            self.checksum = self.checksum.wrapping_add(char);
+        }
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn finish(mut self) -> Vec<u8> {
+        let checksum = self.checksum;
+        self.buffer.push(b'#');
+        self.write_hex_u8(checksum).buffer
+    }
+}