diff --git a/src/add-ons/kernel/debugger/usb_keyboard/usb_keyboard.cpp b/src/add-ons/kernel/debugger/usb_keyboard/usb_keyboard.cpp
index ee91d2981a..94d79add64 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/kernel/debugger/usb_keyboard/usb_keyboard.cpp
+++ b/src/add-ons/kernel/debugger/usb_keyboard/usb_keyboard.cpp
@@ -206,9 +206,15 @@ debugger_getchar(void)
 		set_debug_variable("_usbTransferLength", (uint64)sUSBTransferLength);
 
 		status_t status = evaluate_debug_command("usb_process_transfer");
-		if (status != B_OK)
+		if (status == B_DEV_PENDING)
 			return -1;
 
+		if (status != B_OK) {
+			// try clearing a possibly set halt due to toggle mismatches
+			evaluate_debug_command("usb_clear_stall");
+			return -1;
+		}
+
 		bool phantomState = true;
 		for (size_t i = 2; i < sUSBTransferLength; i++) {
 			if (sUSBTransferData[i] != 0x01) {