diff --git a/machine/src/devices/console.rs b/machine/src/devices/console.rs
index 6df1176..b842a0e 100644
--- a/machine/src/devices/console.rs
+++ b/machine/src/devices/console.rs
@@ -4,26 +4,51 @@
 
 #![allow(dead_code)]
 
-use {crate::platform, core::fmt};
+use {
+    crate::{devices::SerialOps, platform},
+    core::fmt,
+};
 
 /// A trait that must be implemented by devices that are candidates for the
 /// global console.
 #[allow(unused_variables)]
-pub trait ConsoleOps {
-    fn putc(&self, c: char) {}
-    fn puts(&self, string: &str) {}
-    fn getc(&self) -> char {
-        ' '
-    }
-    fn flush(&self) {}
+pub trait ConsoleOps: SerialOps {
+    /// Send a character
+    fn write_char(&self, c: char);
+    /// Display a string
+    fn write_string(&self, string: &str);
+    /// Receive a character
+    fn read_char(&self) -> char;
 }
 
 /// A dummy console that just ignores its inputs.
 pub struct NullConsole;
+
 impl Drop for NullConsole {
     fn drop(&mut self) {}
 }
-impl ConsoleOps for NullConsole {}
+
+impl ConsoleOps for NullConsole {
+    fn write_char(&self, _c: char) {}
+
+    fn write_string(&self, _string: &str) {}
+
+    fn read_char(&self) -> char {
+        ' '
+    }
+}
+
+impl SerialOps for NullConsole {
+    fn read_byte(&self) -> u8 {
+        0
+    }
+
+    fn write_byte(&self, _byte: u8) {}
+
+    fn flush(&self) {}
+
+    fn clear_rx(&self) {}
+}
 
 /// Possible outputs which the console can store.
 pub enum Output {
@@ -83,15 +108,15 @@ impl Console {
 
     /// A command prompt.
     pub fn command_prompt<'a>(&self, buf: &'a mut [u8]) -> &'a [u8] {
-        self.puts("\n$> ");
+        self.write_string("\n$> ");
 
         let mut i = 0;
         let mut input;
         loop {
-            input = self.getc();
+            input = self.read_char();
 
             if input == '\n' {
-                self.puts("\n"); // do \r\n output
+                self.write_char('\n'); // do \r\n output
                 return &buf[..i];
             } else {
                 if i < buf.len() {
@@ -101,7 +126,7 @@ impl Console {
                     return &buf[..i];
                 }
 
-                self.putc(input);
+                self.write_char(input);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -113,21 +138,32 @@ impl Drop for Console {
 
 /// Dispatch the respective function to the currently stored output device.
 impl ConsoleOps for Console {
-    fn putc(&self, c: char) {
-        self.current_ptr().putc(c);
+    fn write_char(&self, c: char) {
+        self.current_ptr().write_char(c);
     }
 
-    fn puts(&self, string: &str) {
-        self.current_ptr().puts(string);
+    fn write_string(&self, string: &str) {
+        self.current_ptr().write_string(string);
     }
 
-    fn getc(&self) -> char {
-        self.current_ptr().getc()
+    fn read_char(&self) -> char {
+        self.current_ptr().read_char()
     }
+}
 
+impl SerialOps for Console {
+    fn read_byte(&self) -> u8 {
+        self.current_ptr().read_byte()
+    }
+    fn write_byte(&self, byte: u8) {
+        self.current_ptr().write_byte(byte)
+    }
     fn flush(&self) {
         self.current_ptr().flush()
     }
+    fn clear_rx(&self) {
+        self.current_ptr().clear_rx()
+    }
 }
 
 /// Implementing this trait enables usage of the format_args! macros, which in
@@ -136,8 +172,7 @@ impl ConsoleOps for Console {
 /// See src/macros.rs.
 impl fmt::Write for Console {
     fn write_str(&mut self, s: &str) -> fmt::Result {
-        self.current_ptr().puts(s);
-
+        self.current_ptr().write_string(s);
         Ok(())
     }
 }
diff --git a/machine/src/devices/mod.rs b/machine/src/devices/mod.rs
index a361cc4..180be7b 100644
--- a/machine/src/devices/mod.rs
+++ b/machine/src/devices/mod.rs
@@ -2,5 +2,9 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: BlueOak-1.0.0
  */
 pub mod console;
+pub mod serial;
 
-pub use console::{Console, ConsoleOps};
+pub use {
+    console::{Console, ConsoleOps},
+    serial::SerialOps,
+};
diff --git a/machine/src/devices/serial.rs b/machine/src/devices/serial.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82c4a99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/machine/src/devices/serial.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+pub trait SerialOps {
+    /// Read one byte from serial without translation.
+    fn read_byte(&self) -> u8;
+    /// Write one byte to serial without translation.
+    fn write_byte(&self, byte: u8);
+    /// Wait until the TX FIFO is empty, aka all characters have been put on the
+    /// line.
+    fn flush(&self);
+    /// Consume input until RX FIFO is empty, aka all pending characters have been
+    /// consumed.
+    fn clear_rx(&self);
+}
diff --git a/machine/src/platform/rpi3/mini_uart.rs b/machine/src/platform/rpi3/mini_uart.rs
index c59a42e..2f0d0a4 100644
--- a/machine/src/platform/rpi3/mini_uart.rs
+++ b/machine/src/platform/rpi3/mini_uart.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@
 use tock_registers::interfaces::{Readable, Writeable};
 use {
     super::{gpio, BcmHost},
-    crate::{devices::ConsoleOps, platform::MMIODerefWrapper},
+    crate::{
+        devices::{ConsoleOps, SerialOps},
+        platform::MMIODerefWrapper,
+    },
     cfg_if::cfg_if,
     core::{convert::From, fmt},
     tock_registers::{
@@ -212,44 +215,24 @@ impl Drop for PreparedMiniUart {
     }
 }
 
-impl ConsoleOps for PreparedMiniUart {
+impl SerialOps for PreparedMiniUart {
     cfg_if! {
         if #[cfg(not(feature = "noserial"))] {
-            /// Send a character
-            fn putc(&self, c: char) {
-                // wait until we can send
-                crate::arch::loop_until(|| self.0.registers.AUX_MU_LSR.is_set(AUX_MU_LSR::TX_EMPTY));
-
-                // write the character to the buffer
-                self.0.registers.AUX_MU_IO.set(c as u32);
-            }
-
-            /// Display a string
-            fn puts(&self, string: &str) {
-                for c in string.chars() {
-                    // convert newline to carriage return + newline
-                    if c == '\n' {
-                        self.putc('\r')
-                    }
-
-                    self.putc(c);
-                }
-            }
-
-            /// Receive a character
-            fn getc(&self) -> char {
+            /// Receive a byte without console translation
+            fn read_byte(&self) -> u8 {
                 // wait until something is in the buffer
                 crate::arch::loop_until(|| self.0.registers.AUX_MU_LSR.is_set(AUX_MU_LSR::DATA_READY));
 
                 // read it and return
-                let mut ret = self.0.registers.AUX_MU_IO.get() as u8 as char;
+                self.0.registers.AUX_MU_IO.get() as u8
+            }
 
-                // convert carriage return to newline
-                if ret == '\r' {
-                    ret = '\n'
-                }
+            fn write_byte(&self, b: u8) {
+                // wait until we can send
+                crate::arch::loop_until(|| self.0.registers.AUX_MU_LSR.is_set(AUX_MU_LSR::TX_EMPTY));
 
-                ret
+                // write the character to the buffer
+                self.0.registers.AUX_MU_IO.set(b as u32);
             }
 
             /// Wait until the TX FIFO is empty, aka all characters have been put on the
@@ -257,20 +240,69 @@ impl ConsoleOps for PreparedMiniUart {
             fn flush(&self) {
                 crate::arch::loop_until(|| self.0.registers.AUX_MU_LSR.is_set(AUX_MU_LSR::TX_IDLE));
             }
+
+            /// Consume input until RX FIFO is empty, aka all pending characters have been
+            /// consumed.
+            fn clear_rx(&self) {
+                crate::arch::loop_while(|| {
+                    let pending = self.0.registers.AUX_MU_LSR.is_set(AUX_MU_LSR::DATA_READY);
+                    if pending { self.read_char(); }
+                    pending
+                });
+            }
         } else {
-            fn putc(&self, _c: char) {}
-            fn puts(&self, _string: &str) {}
-            fn getc(&self) -> char {
+            fn read_byte(&self) -> u8 { 0 }
+            fn write_byte(&self, _byte: u8) {}
+            fn flush(&self) {}
+            fn clear_rx(&self) {}
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl ConsoleOps for PreparedMiniUart {
+    cfg_if! {
+        if #[cfg(not(feature = "noserial"))] {
+            /// Send a character
+            fn write_char(&self, c: char) {
+                self.write_byte(c as u8);
+            }
+
+            /// Display a string
+            fn write_string(&self, string: &str) {
+                for c in string.chars() {
+                    // convert newline to carriage return + newline
+                    if c == '\n' {
+                        self.write_char('\r')
+                    }
+
+                    self.write_char(c);
+                }
+            }
+
+            /// Receive a character
+            fn read_char(&self) -> char {
+                let mut ret = self.read_byte() as char;
+
+                // convert carriage return to newline -- this doesn't work well for reading binaries...
+                if ret == '\r' {
+                    ret = '\n'
+                }
+
+                ret
+            }
+        } else {
+            fn write_char(&self, _c: char) {}
+            fn write_string(&self, _string: &str) {}
+            fn read_char(&self) -> char {
                 '\n'
             }
-            fn flush(&self) {}
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl fmt::Write for PreparedMiniUart {
     fn write_str(&mut self, s: &str) -> fmt::Result {
-        self.puts(s);
+        self.write_string(s);
         Ok(())
     }
 }
diff --git a/machine/src/platform/rpi3/pl011_uart.rs b/machine/src/platform/rpi3/pl011_uart.rs
index cd1e04c..7b83b2a 100644
--- a/machine/src/platform/rpi3/pl011_uart.rs
+++ b/machine/src/platform/rpi3/pl011_uart.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ use {
         mailbox::{self, MailboxOps},
         BcmHost,
     },
-    crate::{arch::loop_until, devices::ConsoleOps, platform::MMIODerefWrapper},
+    crate::{
+        arch::loop_until,
+        devices::{ConsoleOps, SerialOps},
+        platform::MMIODerefWrapper,
+    },
     snafu::Snafu,
     tock_registers::{
         interfaces::{Readable, Writeable},
@@ -237,35 +241,49 @@ impl Drop for PreparedPL011Uart {
     }
 }
 
-impl ConsoleOps for PreparedPL011Uart {
-    /// Send a character
-    fn putc(&self, c: char) {
+impl SerialOps for PreparedPL011Uart {
+    fn write_byte(&self, b: u8) {
         // wait until we can send
         loop_until(|| !self.0.registers.FR.is_set(FR::TXFF));
 
         // write the character to the buffer
-        self.0.registers.DR.set(c as u32);
+        self.0.registers.DR.set(b as u32);
     }
 
-    /// Display a string
-    fn puts(&self, string: &str) {
-        for c in string.chars() {
-            // convert newline to carriage return + newline
-            if c == '\n' {
-                self.putc('\r')
-            }
-
-            self.putc(c);
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// Receive a character
-    fn getc(&self) -> char {
+    fn read_byte(&self) -> u8 {
         // wait until something is in the buffer
         loop_until(|| !self.0.registers.FR.is_set(FR::RXFE));
 
         // read it and return
-        let mut ret = self.0.registers.DR.get() as u8 as char;
+        self.0.registers.DR.get() as u8
+    }
+
+    fn flush(&self) {}
+
+    fn clear_rx(&self) {}
+}
+
+impl ConsoleOps for PreparedPL011Uart {
+    /// Send a character
+    fn write_char(&self, c: char) {
+        self.write_byte(c as u8)
+    }
+
+    /// Display a string
+    fn write_string(&self, string: &str) {
+        for c in string.chars() {
+            // convert newline to carriage return + newline
+            if c == '\n' {
+                self.write_char('\r')
+            }
+
+            self.write_char(c);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Receive a character
+    fn read_char(&self) -> char {
+        let mut ret = self.read_byte() as char;
 
         // convert carriage return to newline
         if ret == '\r' {
diff --git a/nucleus/src/main.rs b/nucleus/src/main.rs
index 7f651ef..dea9eae 100644
--- a/nucleus/src/main.rs
+++ b/nucleus/src/main.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 
 #[cfg(not(test))]
 use core::panic::PanicInfo;
+#[allow(unused_imports)]
+use machine::devices::SerialOps;
 use {
     cfg_if::cfg_if,
     machine::{
@@ -96,7 +98,6 @@ fn init_uart_serial() {
     // physical wires (e.g. the Framebuffer), you don't need to do this,
     // because flush() is anyways called implicitly by replace_with(). This
     // is just a special case.
-    use machine::devices::console::ConsoleOps;
     CONSOLE.lock(|c| c.flush());
 
     match uart.prepare(mbox, &gpio) {