diff --git a/src/drivers/telemetry/iridiumsbd/IridiumSBD.cpp b/src/drivers/telemetry/iridiumsbd/IridiumSBD.cpp
index a488e764ed..41c1bc4e1d 100644
--- a/src/drivers/telemetry/iridiumsbd/IridiumSBD.cpp
+++ b/src/drivers/telemetry/iridiumsbd/IridiumSBD.cpp
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ void IridiumSBD::standby_loop(void)
 	}
 
 	// write the MO buffer when the message stacking time expires
-	if ((tx_buf_write_idx > 0) && ((hrt_absolute_time() - last_write_time) > (uint64_t)param_stacking_time_ms * 1000)) {
+	if (tx_buf_write_pending && ((hrt_absolute_time() - last_write_time) > (uint64_t)param_stacking_time_ms * 1000)) {
 		write_tx_buf();
 	}
 
@@ -614,6 +614,7 @@ ssize_t IridiumSBD::write(struct file *filp, const char *buffer, size_t buflen)
 
 	tx_buf_write_idx += buflen;
 	last_write_time = hrt_absolute_time();
+	tx_buf_write_pending = true;
 
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&tx_buf_mutex);
 
@@ -695,6 +696,8 @@ void IridiumSBD::write_tx_buf()
 
 	VERBOSE_INFO("WRITE SBD: DATA WRITTEN TO MODEM");
 
+	tx_buf_write_pending = false;
+
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&tx_buf_mutex);
 
 	tx_session_pending = true;
diff --git a/src/drivers/telemetry/iridiumsbd/IridiumSBD.h b/src/drivers/telemetry/iridiumsbd/IridiumSBD.h
index 574ed4e79a..92f8afa40d 100644
--- a/src/drivers/telemetry/iridiumsbd/IridiumSBD.h
+++ b/src/drivers/telemetry/iridiumsbd/IridiumSBD.h
@@ -289,6 +289,7 @@ private:
 	uint8_t tx_buf[SATCOM_TX_BUF_LEN] = {0};
 	int tx_buf_write_idx = 0;
 
+	bool tx_buf_write_pending = false;
 	bool ring_pending = false;
 	bool rx_session_pending = false;
 	bool rx_read_pending = false;