diff --git a/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/esp_modem.c b/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/esp_modem.c
index 2134e387cd..594350ccee 100644
--- a/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/esp_modem.c
+++ b/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/esp_modem.c
@@ -137,6 +137,13 @@ static void esp_handle_uart_pattern(esp_modem_dte_t *esp_dte)
  */
 static void esp_handle_uart_data(esp_modem_dte_t *esp_dte)
 {
+    if (esp_dte->parent.dce->mode != MODEM_PPP_MODE) {
+        ESP_LOGE(MODEM_TAG, "Error: Got data event in PPP mode");
+        /* pattern detection mode -> ignore date event on uart
+         * (should never happen, but if it does, we could still
+         * read the valid data once pattern detect event fired) */
+        return;
+    }
     size_t length = 0;
     uart_get_buffered_data_len(esp_dte->uart_port, &length);
     length = MIN(ESP_MODEM_LINE_BUFFER_SIZE, length);
@@ -380,7 +387,7 @@ modem_dte_t *esp_modem_dte_init(const esp_modem_dte_config_t *config)
         .data_bits = config->data_bits,
         .parity = config->parity,
         .stop_bits = config->stop_bits,
-        .source_clk = UART_SCLK_APB,
+        .source_clk = UART_SCLK_REF_TICK,
         .flow_ctrl = (config->flow_control == MODEM_FLOW_CONTROL_HW) ? UART_HW_FLOWCTRL_CTS_RTS : UART_HW_FLOWCTRL_DISABLE
     };
     /* Install UART driver and get event queue used inside driver */
@@ -408,6 +415,9 @@ modem_dte_t *esp_modem_dte_init(const esp_modem_dte_config_t *config)
     res = uart_enable_pattern_det_baud_intr(esp_dte->uart_port, '\n', 1, MIN_PATTERN_INTERVAL, MIN_POST_IDLE, MIN_PRE_IDLE);
     /* Set pattern queue size */
     res |= uart_pattern_queue_reset(esp_dte->uart_port, CONFIG_EXAMPLE_UART_PATTERN_QUEUE_SIZE);
+    /* Starting in command mode -> explicitly disable RX interrupt */
+    uart_disable_rx_intr(esp_dte->uart_port);
+
     MODEM_CHECK(res == ESP_OK, "config uart pattern failed", err_uart_pattern);
     /* Create Event loop */
     esp_event_loop_args_t loop_args = {