diff --git a/src/main/drivers/pwm_output_dshot.c b/src/main/drivers/pwm_output_dshot.c
index 6a23638a89..12f3928536 100644
--- a/src/main/drivers/pwm_output_dshot.c
+++ b/src/main/drivers/pwm_output_dshot.c
@@ -393,6 +393,10 @@ void pwmDshotMotorHardwareConfig(const timerHardware_t *timerHardware, uint8_t m
         ( 2 + (motor->useProshot ? 4 * MOTOR_NIBBLE_LENGTH_PROSHOT : 16 * MOTOR_BITLENGTH))
         / getDshotHz(pwmProtocolType);
     pwmDshotSetDirectionOutput(motor, true);
+    if (useDshotTelemetry) {
+        // avoid high line during startup to prevent bootloader activation
+        *timerChCCR(timerHardware) = 0xffff;
+    }
 #else
     pwmDshotSetDirectionOutput(motor, true, &OCINIT, &DMAINIT);
 #endif
diff --git a/src/main/drivers/pwm_output_dshot_hal.c b/src/main/drivers/pwm_output_dshot_hal.c
index 6bb79edc60..d56ee9810b 100644
--- a/src/main/drivers/pwm_output_dshot_hal.c
+++ b/src/main/drivers/pwm_output_dshot_hal.c
@@ -354,6 +354,10 @@ void pwmDshotMotorHardwareConfig(const timerHardware_t *timerHardware, uint8_t m
         ( 2 + (motor->useProshot ? 4 * MOTOR_NIBBLE_LENGTH_PROSHOT : 16 * MOTOR_BITLENGTH))
         / getDshotHz(pwmProtocolType);
     pwmDshotSetDirectionOutput(motor, true);
+    if (useDshotTelemetry) {
+        // avoid high line during startup to prevent bootloader activation
+        *timerChCCR(timerHardware) = 0xffff;
+    }
 #else
     pwmDshotSetDirectionOutput(motor, true, &OCINIT, &DMAINIT);
 #endif