diff --git a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/burst_protocol.rb b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/burst_protocol.rb
index 040a42f39..3c9aee569 100644
--- a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/burst_protocol.rb
+++ b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/burst_protocol.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ class BurstProtocol < Protocol
     #   that will be searched for in the raw data. Bytes encountered before
     #   this pattern is found are discarded.
     # @param fill_fields [Boolean] Fill any required fields when writing packets
-    def initialize(discard_leading_bytes = 0, sync_pattern = nil, fill_fields = false, allow_empty_data = false)
+    # @param allow_empty_data [true/false/nil] See Protocol#initialize
+    def initialize(discard_leading_bytes = 0, sync_pattern = nil, fill_fields = false, allow_empty_data = nil)
       super(allow_empty_data)
       @discard_leading_bytes = discard_leading_bytes.to_i
       @sync_pattern = ConfigParser.handle_nil(sync_pattern)
@@ -44,6 +45,8 @@ def reset
     #
     # @return [String|nil] Data for a packet consisting of the bytes read
     def read_data(data)
+      return super(data) if (data.length <= 0)
+
       @data << data
 
       control = handle_sync_pattern()
diff --git a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/crc_protocol.rb b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/crc_protocol.rb
index 1e9817603..615b02fd8 100644
--- a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/crc_protocol.rb
+++ b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/crc_protocol.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ class CrcProtocol < Protocol
 
     def initialize(write_item_name, strip_crc, bad_strategy, bit_offset,
                    bit_size = 32, endianness = 'BIG_ENDIAN',
-                   poly = nil, seed = nil, xor = nil, reflect = nil)
+                   poly = nil, seed = nil, xor = nil, reflect = nil, allow_empty_data = nil)
+      super(allow_empty_data)
       @write_item_name = ConfigParser.handle_nil(write_item_name)
       @strip_crc = ConfigParser.handle_true_false(strip_crc)
       raise "Invalid strip CRC of '#{strip_crc}'. Must be TRUE or FALSE." unless !!@strip_crc == @strip_crc
@@ -95,6 +96,8 @@ def initialize(write_item_name, strip_crc, bad_strategy, bit_offset,
     end
 
     def read_data(data)
+      return super(data) if (data.length <= 0)
+
       crc = BinaryAccessor.read(@bit_offset, @bit_size, :UINT, data, @endianness)
       calculated_crc = @crc.calc(data[0...(@bit_offset / 8)])
       if calculated_crc != crc
diff --git a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/fixed_protocol.rb b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/fixed_protocol.rb
index b2720656f..75255f529 100644
--- a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/fixed_protocol.rb
+++ b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/fixed_protocol.rb
@@ -25,15 +25,17 @@ class FixedProtocol < BurstProtocol
     #   telemetry (true) or commands (false)
     # @param fill_fields (see BurstProtocol#initialize)
     # @param unknown_raise Whether to raise an exception on an unknown packet
+    # @param allow_empty_data [true/false/nil] See Protocol#initialize
     def initialize(
       min_id_size,
       discard_leading_bytes = 0,
       sync_pattern = nil,
       telemetry = true,
       fill_fields = false,
-      unknown_raise = false
+      unknown_raise = false,
+      allow_empty_data = nil
     )
-      super(discard_leading_bytes, sync_pattern, fill_fields)
+      super(discard_leading_bytes, sync_pattern, fill_fields, allow_empty_data)
       @min_id_size = Integer(min_id_size)
       @telemetry = telemetry
       @unknown_raise = ConfigParser::handle_true_false(unknown_raise)
diff --git a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/length_protocol.rb b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/length_protocol.rb
index 00c72df34..30e2a4904 100644
--- a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/length_protocol.rb
+++ b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/length_protocol.rb
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ class LengthProtocol < BurstProtocol
     # @param max_length [Integer] The maximum allowed value of the length field
     # @param fill_length_and_sync_pattern [Boolean] Fill the length field and sync
     #    pattern when writing packets
+    # @param allow_empty_data [true/false/nil] See Protocol#initialize
     def initialize(
       length_bit_offset = 0,
       length_bit_size = 16,
@@ -42,9 +43,10 @@ def initialize(
       discard_leading_bytes = 0,
       sync_pattern = nil,
       max_length = nil,
-      fill_length_and_sync_pattern = false
+      fill_length_and_sync_pattern = false,
+      allow_empty_data = nil
     )
-      super(discard_leading_bytes, sync_pattern, fill_length_and_sync_pattern)
+      super(discard_leading_bytes, sync_pattern, fill_length_and_sync_pattern, allow_empty_data)
 
       # Save length field attributes
       @length_bit_offset = Integer(length_bit_offset)
diff --git a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/override_protocol.rb b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/override_protocol.rb
index a34844fd1..486a9d1ba 100644
--- a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/override_protocol.rb
+++ b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/override_protocol.rb
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ module Cosmos
   # methods. Clearing the override requires calling normalize_tlm.
   class OverrideProtocol < Protocol
 
-    # @param allow_empty_data [true/false] Whether STOP should be returned on empty data
-    def initialize(allow_empty_data = false)
+    # @param allow_empty_data [true/false/nil] See Protocol#initialize
+    def initialize(allow_empty_data = nil)
       super(allow_empty_data)
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/preidentified_protocol.rb b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/preidentified_protocol.rb
index bf5893ff6..f3daad09f 100644
--- a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/preidentified_protocol.rb
+++ b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/preidentified_protocol.rb
@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@ class PreidentifiedProtocol < BurstProtocol
 
     # @param sync_pattern (see BurstProtocol#initialize)
     # @param max_length [Integer] The maximum allowed value of the length field
-    def initialize(sync_pattern = nil, max_length = nil)
-      super(0, sync_pattern)
+    # @param allow_empty_data [true/false/nil] See Protocol#initialize
+    def initialize(sync_pattern = nil, max_length = nil, allow_empty_data = nil)
+      super(0, sync_pattern, false, allow_empty_data)
       @max_length = ConfigParser.handle_nil(max_length)
       @max_length = Integer(@max_length) if @max_length
     end
diff --git a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/protocol.rb b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/protocol.rb
index b1d7fb0e9..2aa6d839c 100644
--- a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/protocol.rb
+++ b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/protocol.rb
@@ -17,10 +17,12 @@ class Protocol
     attr_accessor :interface
     attr_accessor :allow_empty_data
 
-    # @param allow_empty_data [true/false] Whether STOP should be returned on empty data
-    def initialize(allow_empty_data = false)
+    # @param allow_empty_data [true/false/nil] Whether or not this protocol will allow an empty string
+    # to be passed down to later Protocols (instead of returning :STOP). Can be true, false, or nil, where
+    # nil is interpreted as true unless the Protocol is the last Protocol of the chain.
+    def initialize(allow_empty_data = nil)
       @interface = nil
-      @allow_empty_data = ConfigParser.handle_true_false(allow_empty_data)
+      @allow_empty_data = ConfigParser.handle_true_false_nil(allow_empty_data)
       reset()
     end
 
@@ -37,7 +39,17 @@ def disconnect_reset
 
     # Ensure we have some data in case this is the only protocol
     def read_data(data)
-      return :STOP if (data.length <= 0) && !@allow_empty_data
+      if (data.length <= 0)
+        if @allow_empty_data.nil?
+          if @interface and @interface.read_protocols[-1] == self
+            # Last read interface in chain with auto @allow_empty_data
+            return :STOP
+          end
+        elsif !@allow_empty_data
+          # Don't @allow_empty_data means STOP
+          return :STOP
+        end
+      end
       data
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/template_protocol.rb b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/template_protocol.rb
index 53eb42480..7e1c4d135 100644
--- a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/template_protocol.rb
+++ b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/template_protocol.rb
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class TemplateProtocol < TerminatedProtocol
     #   for a response
     # @param raise_exceptions [String] Whether to raise exceptions when errors
     #   occur in the protocol like unexpected responses or response timeouts.
+    # @param allow_empty_data [true/false/nil] See Protocol#initialize
     def initialize(
       write_termination_characters,
       read_termination_characters,
@@ -48,7 +49,8 @@ def initialize(
       fill_fields = false,
       response_timeout = 5.0,
       response_polling_period = 0.02,
-      raise_exceptions = false
+      raise_exceptions = false,
+      allow_empty_data = nil
     )
       super(
         write_termination_characters,
@@ -56,7 +58,8 @@ def initialize(
         strip_read_termination,
         discard_leading_bytes,
         sync_pattern,
-        fill_fields)
+        fill_fields,
+        allow_empty_data)
       @response_template = nil
       @response_packet = nil
       @response_packets = []
@@ -93,6 +96,8 @@ def disconnect_reset
     end
 
     def read_data(data)
+      return super(data) if (data.length <= 0)
+
       # Drop all data until the initial_read_delay is complete.
       # This gets rid of unused welcome messages,
       # prompts, and other junk on initial connections
diff --git a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/terminated_protocol.rb b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/terminated_protocol.rb
index 0368b375e..0c5d1a3d2 100644
--- a/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/terminated_protocol.rb
+++ b/lib/cosmos/interfaces/protocols/terminated_protocol.rb
@@ -27,19 +27,21 @@ class TerminatedProtocol < BurstProtocol
     # @param discard_leading_bytes (see BurstProtocol#initialize)
     # @param sync_pattern (see BurstProtocol#initialize)
     # @param fill_fields (see BurstProtocol#initialize)
+    # @param allow_empty_data [true/false/nil] See Protocol#initialize
     def initialize(
       write_termination_characters,
       read_termination_characters,
       strip_read_termination = true,
       discard_leading_bytes = 0,
       sync_pattern = nil,
-      fill_fields = false
+      fill_fields = false,
+      allow_empty_data = nil
     )
       @write_termination_characters = write_termination_characters.hex_to_byte_string
       @read_termination_characters = read_termination_characters.hex_to_byte_string
       @strip_read_termination = ConfigParser.handle_true_false(strip_read_termination)
 
-      super(discard_leading_bytes, sync_pattern, fill_fields)
+      super(discard_leading_bytes, sync_pattern, fill_fields, allow_empty_data)
     end
 
     def write_data(data)
diff --git a/spec/interfaces/protocols/burst_protocol_spec.rb b/spec/interfaces/protocols/burst_protocol_spec.rb
index a5eb56493..e5c01886c 100644
--- a/spec/interfaces/protocols/burst_protocol_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/interfaces/protocols/burst_protocol_spec.rb
@@ -197,6 +197,24 @@ def read
         pkt = @interface.read
         expect(pkt.length).to eql 3 # sync plus one byte
       end
+
+      it "handle auto allow_empty_data correctly" do
+        @interface.add_protocol(BurstProtocol, [0, nil, false, nil], :READ_WRITE)
+        expect(@interface.read_protocols[0].read_data("")).to eql :STOP
+        expect(@interface.read_protocols[0].read_data("A")).to eql "A"
+        @interface.add_protocol(BurstProtocol, [0, nil, false, nil], :READ_WRITE)
+        expect(@interface.read_protocols[0].read_data("")).to eql ""
+        expect(@interface.read_protocols[1].read_data("")).to eql :STOP
+        expect(@interface.read_protocols[0].read_data("A")).to eql "A"
+        expect(@interface.read_protocols[1].read_data("A")).to eql "A"
+        @interface.add_protocol(BurstProtocol, [0, nil, false, nil], :READ_WRITE)
+        expect(@interface.read_protocols[0].read_data("")).to eql ""
+        expect(@interface.read_protocols[1].read_data("")).to eql ""
+        expect(@interface.read_protocols[2].read_data("")).to eql :STOP
+        expect(@interface.read_protocols[0].read_data("A")).to eql "A"
+        expect(@interface.read_protocols[1].read_data("A")).to eql "A"
+        expect(@interface.read_protocols[2].read_data("A")).to eql "A"
+      end
     end
 
     describe "write" do