diff --git a/chotki.go b/chotki.go
index 0f6a64f..4a58a8a 100644
--- a/chotki.go
+++ b/chotki.go
@@ -548,10 +548,7 @@ func (cho *Chotki) Drain(ctx context.Context, recs protocol.Records) (err error)
 		case 'B': // bye dear
 			cho.log.InfoCtx(ctx, "received session end", "id", id.String())
 			cho.syncs.Delete(id)
-		case 'A':
-			cho.log.InfoCtx(ctx, "received ping")
-		case 'Z':
-			cho.log.InfoCtx(ctx, "received pong")
+		case 'P': // ping noop
 		default:
 			return fmt.Errorf("unsupported packet type %c", lit)
 		}
diff --git a/chotki_test.go b/chotki_test.go
index 0aa36f8..7a01687 100644
--- a/chotki_test.go
+++ b/chotki_test.go
@@ -182,8 +182,6 @@ func TestChotki_SyncLivePingsOk(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assert.Equal(t, SendLive, synca.GetFeedState())
 	assert.Equal(t, SendLive, syncb.GetFeedState())
-	assert.Equal(t, SendLive, synca.GetDrainState())
-	assert.Equal(t, SendLive, syncb.GetDrainState())
 	cancel()
 	// wait until everything stopped
 	time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 100)
diff --git a/sync.go b/sync.go
index 8af6c2f..c5e7ac2 100644
--- a/sync.go
+++ b/sync.go
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ func (m *SyncMode) Unzip(raw []byte) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+const PingVal = "ping"
+const PongVal = "pong"
+
 type SyncState int
 
 const (
@@ -203,7 +206,7 @@ func (sync *Syncer) Feed(ctx context.Context) (recs protocol.Records, err error)
 		}
 	case SendPing:
 		recs = protocol.Records{
-			protocol.Record('A', rdx.Stlv("ping")),
+			protocol.Record('P', rdx.Stlv(PingVal)),
 		}
 		sync.SetFeedState(ctx, SendLive)
 		sync.pingStage.Store(int32(Inactive))
@@ -214,7 +217,7 @@ func (sync *Syncer) Feed(ctx context.Context) (recs protocol.Records, err error)
 		})
 	case SendPong:
 		recs = protocol.Records{
-			protocol.Record('Z', rdx.Stlv("pong")),
+			protocol.Record('P', rdx.Stlv(PongVal)),
 		}
 		sync.pingStage.Store(int32(Inactive))
 		sync.SetFeedState(ctx, SendLive)
@@ -429,11 +432,29 @@ func (sync *Syncer) resetPingTimer() {
 	})
 }
 
+func (sync *Syncer) processPings(recs protocol.Records) {
+	for _, rec := range recs {
+		if protocol.Lit(rec) == 'P' {
+			body, _ := protocol.Take('P', rec)
+			switch rdx.Snative(body) {
+			case PingVal:
+				sync.log.Info("ping received", sync.withDefaultArgs()...)
+				// go to pong state next time
+				sync.pingStage.Store(int32(Pong))
+			case PongVal:
+				sync.log.Info("pong received", sync.withDefaultArgs()...)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (sync *Syncer) Drain(ctx context.Context, recs protocol.Records) (err error) {
 	if len(recs) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	sync.processPings(recs)
+
 	switch sync.drainState {
 	case SendHandshake:
 		if len(recs) == 0 {
@@ -462,9 +483,6 @@ func (sync *Syncer) Drain(ctx context.Context, recs protocol.Records) (err error
 			} else {
 				sync.SetDrainState(ctx, SendLive)
 			}
-			if lit == 'A' {
-				sync.pingStage.Store(int32(Pong))
-			}
 		}
 		if sync.Mode&SyncLive != 0 {
 			sync.resetPingTimer()
@@ -480,9 +498,6 @@ func (sync *Syncer) Drain(ctx context.Context, recs protocol.Records) (err error
 		if lit == 'B' {
 			sync.SetDrainState(ctx, SendNone)
 		}
-		if lit == 'A' {
-			sync.pingStage.Store(int32(Pong))
-		}
 		err = sync.Host.Drain(sync.log.WithDefaultArgs(ctx, sync.withDefaultArgs()...), recs)
 		if err == nil {
 			sync.Host.Broadcast(sync.log.WithDefaultArgs(ctx, sync.withDefaultArgs()...), recs, sync.Name)