diff --git a/internal/cat/yaesu.go b/internal/cat/yaesu.go
index 3d48c10..b1cb52e 100644
--- a/internal/cat/yaesu.go
+++ b/internal/cat/yaesu.go
@@ -297,8 +297,16 @@ func (y *Yaesu) ask(cmd string) (string, error) {
 	if err := y.write(cmd); err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
-	buf := make([]byte, 0, 32)
-	tmp := make([]byte, 32)
+	// Match the reply to the COMMAND, and drop anything else.
+	//
+	// Returning the first ';'-terminated string whatever it was is what made a CW
+	// macro knock the CAT link over: KY produces no reply, so the next query —
+	// FA; from the poll loop — collected a leftover frame, failed to parse as a
+	// frequency, and the Manager treated that as "lost the rig" and reconnected.
+	// The operator saw the CAT drop for a few seconds on every macro click.
+	want := cmdPrefix(cmd)
+	buf := make([]byte, 0, 64)
+	tmp := make([]byte, 64)
 	deadline := time.Now().Add(600 * time.Millisecond)
 	for time.Now().Before(deadline) {
 		n, err := y.port.Read(tmp)
@@ -309,8 +317,17 @@ func (y *Yaesu) ask(cmd string) (string, error) {
 			continue // read timeout — the rig may still be composing its answer
 		}
 		buf = append(buf, tmp[:n]...)
-		if i := strings.IndexByte(string(buf), ';'); i >= 0 {
-			return string(buf[:i+1]), nil
+		for {
+			i := strings.IndexByte(string(buf), ';')
+			if i < 0 {
+				break
+			}
+			frame := string(buf[:i+1])
+			buf = buf[i+1:]
+			if want == "" || strings.HasPrefix(strings.ToUpper(frame), want) {
+				return frame, nil
+			}
+			debugLog.Printf("yaesu: discarding %q while waiting for %s (asked %q)", frame, want, cmd)
 		}
 		if len(buf) > 512 {
 			return "", fmt.Errorf("yaesu: no ';' in %d bytes answering %q", len(buf), cmd)
@@ -319,6 +336,18 @@ func (y *Yaesu) ask(cmd string) (string, error) {
 	return "", fmt.Errorf("yaesu: timeout answering %q", cmd)
 }
 
+// cmdPrefix is the leading letters of a command — what its reply starts with.
+// "FA;" → "FA", "MD0;" → "MD", "KY;" → "KY".
+func cmdPrefix(cmd string) string {
+	c := strings.ToUpper(strings.TrimSpace(cmd))
+	for i := 0; i < len(c); i++ {
+		if c[i] < 'A' || c[i] > 'Z' {
+			return c[:i]
+		}
+	}
+	return c
+}
+
 // parseYaesuFreq reads "FA014074000;" into Hz.
 func parseYaesuFreq(reply, prefix string) (int64, bool) {
 	r := strings.TrimSpace(reply)
diff --git a/internal/cat/yaesu_test.go b/internal/cat/yaesu_test.go
index 6b17ea0..a75120b 100644
--- a/internal/cat/yaesu_test.go
+++ b/internal/cat/yaesu_test.go
@@ -103,3 +103,30 @@ func TestYaesuModeDigit(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// A reply belongs to the command that asked for it.
+//
+// Without this, a CW macro knocked the CAT link over: KY produces no reply, so
+// the poll loop's next FA; collected a leftover frame, failed to parse it as a
+// frequency, and the Manager treated that as "lost the rig" and reconnected —
+// the CAT dropping for a few seconds on every macro click.
+func TestYaesuCmdPrefix(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct{ cmd, want string }{
+		{"FA;", "FA"},
+		{"FB;", "FB"},
+		{"MD0;", "MD"},
+		{"KY;", "KY"},
+		{"KY CQ TEST;", "KY"},
+		{"SM0;", "SM"},
+		{"RM4;", "RM"},
+		{"AG0;", "AG"},
+		{"TX;", "TX"},
+		{"", ""},
+		{";", ""},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		if got := cmdPrefix(c.cmd); got != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("cmdPrefix(%q) = %q, want %q", c.cmd, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}