diff --git a/meshtastic/mesh_interface.py b/meshtastic/mesh_interface.py
index 2866f025..6832912c 100644
--- a/meshtastic/mesh_interface.py
+++ b/meshtastic/mesh_interface.py
@@ -632,11 +632,13 @@ def _handlePacketFromRadio(self, meshPacket, hack=False):
         # asObj = DotMap(asDict)
         topic = "meshtastic.receive"  # Generic unknown packet type
 
-        decoded = asDict["decoded"]
-        # The default MessageToDict converts byte arrays into base64 strings.
-        # We don't want that - it messes up data payload.  So slam in the correct
-        # byte array.
-        decoded["payload"] = meshPacket.decoded.payload
+        decoded = None
+        if 'decoded' in asDict:
+            decoded = asDict["decoded"]
+            # The default MessageToDict converts byte arrays into base64 strings.
+            # We don't want that - it messes up data payload.  So slam in the correct
+            # byte array.
+            decoded["payload"] = meshPacket.decoded.payload
 
         # UNKNOWN_APP is the default protobuf portnum value, and therefore if not
         # set it will not be populated at all to make API usage easier, set
diff --git a/meshtastic/tests/test_smokevirt.py b/meshtastic/tests/test_smokevirt.py
index 1a10c2ed..2c6967f5 100644
--- a/meshtastic/tests/test_smokevirt.py
+++ b/meshtastic/tests/test_smokevirt.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 # seconds to pause after running a meshtastic command
 PAUSE_AFTER_COMMAND = 0.1
-PAUSE_AFTER_REBOOT = 0.1
+PAUSE_AFTER_REBOOT = 0.2
 
 
 #TODO: need to fix the virtual device to have a reboot. When you issue the command
@@ -358,6 +358,11 @@ def test_smokevirt_ch_set_downlink_and_uplink():
 @pytest.mark.smokevirt
 def test_smokevirt_ch_add_and_ch_del():
     """Test --ch-add"""
+    return_value, out = subprocess.getstatusoutput('meshtastic --host localhost --ch-index 1 --ch-del')
+    assert re.search(r'Deleting channel 1', out, re.MULTILINE)
+    assert return_value == 0
+    # pause for the radio
+    time.sleep(PAUSE_AFTER_REBOOT)
     return_value, out = subprocess.getstatusoutput('meshtastic --host localhost --ch-add testing')
     assert re.search(r'Writing modified channels to device', out, re.MULTILINE)
     assert return_value == 0
@@ -375,7 +380,7 @@ def test_smokevirt_ch_add_and_ch_del():
     assert return_value == 0
     # pause for the radio
     time.sleep(PAUSE_AFTER_REBOOT)
-    # make sure the secondar channel is not there
+    # make sure the secondary channel is not there
     return_value, out = subprocess.getstatusoutput('meshtastic --host localhost --info')
     assert re.match(r'Connected to radio', out)
     assert not re.search(r'SECONDARY', out, re.MULTILINE)
@@ -386,6 +391,11 @@ def test_smokevirt_ch_add_and_ch_del():
 @pytest.mark.smokevirt
 def test_smokevirt_ch_enable_and_disable():
     """Test --ch-enable and --ch-disable"""
+    return_value, out = subprocess.getstatusoutput('meshtastic --host localhost --ch-index 1 --ch-del')
+    assert re.search(r'Deleting channel 1', out, re.MULTILINE)
+    assert return_value == 0
+    # pause for the radio
+    time.sleep(PAUSE_AFTER_REBOOT)
     return_value, out = subprocess.getstatusoutput('meshtastic --host localhost --ch-add testing')
     assert re.search(r'Writing modified channels to device', out, re.MULTILINE)
     assert return_value == 0
@@ -434,6 +444,11 @@ def test_smokevirt_ch_enable_and_disable():
 @pytest.mark.smokevirt
 def test_smokevirt_ch_del_a_disabled_non_primary_channel():
     """Test --ch-del will work on a disabled non-primary channel."""
+    return_value, out = subprocess.getstatusoutput('meshtastic --host localhost --ch-index 1 --ch-del')
+    assert re.search(r'Deleting channel 1', out, re.MULTILINE)
+    assert return_value == 0
+    # pause for the radio
+    time.sleep(PAUSE_AFTER_REBOOT)
     return_value, out = subprocess.getstatusoutput('meshtastic --host localhost --ch-add testing')
     assert re.search(r'Writing modified channels to device', out, re.MULTILINE)
     assert return_value == 0