diff --git a/examples/init_handler/init_handler.ino b/examples/init_handler/init_handler.ino
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e135649
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/init_handler/init_handler.ino
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/**
+ * C/MRI INIT handler example
+ * ===========================
+ * Demonstrates how to register an INIT callback to inspect the
+ * configuration payload sent by JMRI at startup.
+ *
+ * The INIT message body follows NMRA LCS-9.10.1:
+ *   byte 0:   NDP (Node Definition Parameter)
+ *   bytes 1-2: DLH/DLL (transmit delay, high & low bytes)
+ *   bytes 3+:  node-type-specific options
+ *
+ * The transmit delay is computed as (DLH * 256 + DLL) * 10 microseconds.
+ * This example reads the delay and prints the configuration to Serial.
+ *
+ * To set up in JMRI:
+ * 1: Create a new C/MRI connection (Serial, 9600 baud)
+ * 2: Configure a node with address 0 — JMRI sends an INIT at startup
+ * 3: Open Tools > Tables > Lights and add a light at address 1
+ * 4: Open the C/MRI Monitor to watch the INIT message
+ *    Raw format: [41 49 43 00 0A ...] = UA 'A', cmd 'I', NDP='C', DL=10
+ */
+
+#include <CMRI.h>
+
+CMRI cmri; // defaults to a SMINI with address 0
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// INIT handler callback
+// Called automatically when an INIT ('I') packet is received.
+// data  – pointer to the raw INIT payload bytes
+// len   – number of bytes in the payload
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void on_init(const uint8_t *data, int len)
+{
+	Serial.print(F("INIT received ("));
+
+	if (len >= 1)
+	{
+		Serial.print(F("NDP="));
+		Serial.write(data[0]);
+		Serial.print(F(" "));
+	}
+
+	if (len >= 3)
+	{
+		int delay_us = (data[1] * 256 + data[2]) * 10;
+		Serial.print(F("DL="));
+		Serial.print(delay_us);
+		Serial.print(F("us "));
+	}
+
+	if (len > 3)
+	{
+		Serial.print(F("options="));
+		for (int i = 3; i < len; i++)
+		{
+			if (i > 3)
+				Serial.print(F(" "));
+			if (data[i] < 16)
+				Serial.print(F("0"));
+			Serial.print(data[i], HEX);
+		}
+		Serial.print(F(" "));
+	}
+
+	Serial.print(len);
+	Serial.println(F(" bytes"));
+}
+
+void setup()
+{
+	Serial.begin(9600, SERIAL_8N2);
+	cmri.set_init_handler(on_init);
+	pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
+}
+
+void loop()
+{
+	cmri.process();
+	digitalWrite(13, cmri.get_bit(0));
+}
diff --git a/src/CMRI.cpp b/src/CMRI.cpp
index 6c91073..abe9fbe 100644
--- a/src/CMRI.cpp
+++ b/src/CMRI.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ CMRI::CMRI(unsigned int address, unsigned int input_bits, unsigned int output_bi
 
       // parsing state
       ,
-      _mode(PREAMBLE_1), _rx_index(0)
+      _mode(PREAMBLE_1), _rx_index(0), _rx_data_len(0), _init_handler(nullptr)
 
 {
 	// clear to zero
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ void CMRI::set_address(unsigned int address)
 	_address = address;
 }
 
+void CMRI::set_init_handler(void (*handler)(const uint8_t *, int))
+{
+	_init_handler = handler;
+}
+
 // reads in serial data, decodes packets
 // automatically responds to POLL requests
 // returns packet type so if we got a SET request you know to update your outputs
@@ -71,17 +76,21 @@ bool CMRI::process()
 
 bool CMRI::process_char(char c)
 {
-	// if it's a SET that's fine do nothing
-	// if it's an INIT that's also fine, we don't really care
-	// if it's a GET, well, do nothing since it must be someone else replying
-	// if it's a POLL then reply straight away with our data
-	switch (_decode(c))
+	// if it's a SET, update the output buffer
+	// if it's an INIT, the payload was consumed and the sketch can handle it
+	// if it's a GET, ignore — must be another node replying
+	// if it's a POLL, reply straight away with our input data
+	unsigned char ret = _decode(c);
+	switch (ret)
 	{
 	case POLL:
 		transmit();
 		return true;
 
 	case SET:
+	case INIT:
+		if (ret == INIT && _init_handler)
+			_init_handler((const uint8_t *)_rx_buffer, _rx_data_len);
 		return true;
 
 	default:
@@ -188,8 +197,11 @@ uint8_t CMRI::_decode(uint8_t c)
 		break;
 
 	case DECODE_CMD:
+		_rx_packet_type = c;
 		if (c == SET)
 			_mode = DECODE_DATA;
+		else if (c == INIT)
+			_mode = DECODE_DATA;
 		else if (c == POLL)
 			goto POSTAMBLE_POLL;
 		else
@@ -239,8 +251,10 @@ uint8_t CMRI::_decode(uint8_t c)
 	return NOOP;
 
 POSTAMBLE_SET:
+	_rx_data_len = _rx_index;
 	_mode = PREAMBLE_1;
-	return SET;
+	_rx_index = 0;
+	return _rx_packet_type;
 
 POSTAMBLE_POLL:
 	_mode = PREAMBLE_1;
diff --git a/src/CMRI.h b/src/CMRI.h
index 8991889..052dbeb 100644
--- a/src/CMRI.h
+++ b/src/CMRI.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ class CMRI
   public:
 	CMRI(unsigned int address = 0, unsigned int input_bits = 24, unsigned int output_bits = 48, Stream &serial_class = Serial);
 	void set_address(unsigned int address);
+	void set_init_handler(void (*handler)(const uint8_t *data, int len));
 
 	bool process();
 	bool process_char(char c);
@@ -82,6 +83,8 @@ class CMRI
 	char _rx_packet_type;
 	char *_rx_buffer;
 	char *_tx_buffer;
+	int _rx_data_len;
+	void (*_init_handler)(const uint8_t *, int);
 
 	Stream &_serial;