diff --git a/Runtime/Scripts/DataStreams/ByteDataStream.cs b/Runtime/Scripts/DataStreams/ByteDataStream.cs
index d3072700..e5185e6f 100644
--- a/Runtime/Scripts/DataStreams/ByteDataStream.cs
+++ b/Runtime/Scripts/DataStreams/ByteDataStream.cs
@@ -83,9 +83,14 @@ public ReadIncrementalInstruction ReadIncremental()
             using var request = FFIBridge.Instance.NewRequest<ByteStreamReaderReadIncrementalRequest>();
             var readIncReq = request.request;
             readIncReq.ReaderHandle = (ulong)_handle.DangerousGetHandle();
-            request.Send();
 
-            return new ReadIncrementalInstruction(_handle);
+            // Subscribe before sending: chunk events are delivered directly on the FFI
+            // callback thread, and the FFI server emits already-buffered chunks as soon
+            // as it receives the request. Sending first loses any chunk emitted before
+            // the subscription exists.
+            var instruction = new ReadIncrementalInstruction(_handle);
+            request.Send();
+            return instruction;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
diff --git a/Runtime/Scripts/DataStreams/TextDataStream.cs b/Runtime/Scripts/DataStreams/TextDataStream.cs
index 4587a5c0..f6181a2c 100644
--- a/Runtime/Scripts/DataStreams/TextDataStream.cs
+++ b/Runtime/Scripts/DataStreams/TextDataStream.cs
@@ -122,9 +122,14 @@ public ReadIncrementalInstruction ReadIncremental()
             using var request = FFIBridge.Instance.NewRequest<TextStreamReaderReadIncrementalRequest>();
             var readIncReq = request.request;
             readIncReq.ReaderHandle = (ulong)_handle.DangerousGetHandle();
-            request.Send();
 
-            return new ReadIncrementalInstruction(_handle);
+            // Subscribe before sending: chunk events are delivered directly on the FFI
+            // callback thread, and the FFI server emits already-buffered chunks as soon
+            // as it receives the request. Sending first loses any chunk emitted before
+            // the subscription exists.
+            var instruction = new ReadIncrementalInstruction(_handle);
+            request.Send();
+            return instruction;
         }
 
         /// <summary>