diff --git a/docs/serial.md b/docs/serial.md
index ba5b394..1b5bc0b 100644
--- a/docs/serial.md
+++ b/docs/serial.md
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ Read up to `len` number of bytes from the serial port into the `buf` buffer with
 
 For a non-blocking or timeout-bound read, `serial_read()` may return less than the requested number of bytes.
 
+For a blocking read with the VMIN setting configured, `serial_read()` will block until at least VMIN bytes are read. For a blocking read with both VMIN and VTIME settings configured, `serial_read()` will block until at least VMIN bytes are read or the VTIME interbyte timeout expires after the last byte read. In either case, `serial_read()` may return less than the requested number of bytes.
+
 `serial` should be a valid pointer to a Serial handle opened with `serial_open()` or `serial_open_advanced()`. `timeout_ms` can be positive for a blocking read with a timeout in milliseconds, zero for a non-blocking read, or negative for a blocking read.
 
 Returns the number of bytes read on success, 0 on timeout, or a negative [Serial error code](#return-value) on failure.
diff --git a/src/serial.c b/src/serial.c
index d4b0f90..0e317f6 100644
--- a/src/serial.c
+++ b/src/serial.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 struct serial_handle {
     int fd;
+    bool use_termios_timeout;
 
     struct {
         int c_errno;
@@ -234,6 +235,8 @@ int serial_open_advanced(serial_t *serial, const char *path, uint32_t baudrate,
         return _serial_error(serial, SERIAL_ERROR_CONFIGURE, errsv, "Setting serial port attributes");
     }
 
+    serial->use_termios_timeout = false;
+
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -261,6 +264,10 @@ int serial_read(serial_t *serial, uint8_t *buf, size_t len, int timeout_ms) {
         if ((ret = read(serial->fd, buf + bytes_read, len - bytes_read)) < 0)
             return _serial_error(serial, SERIAL_ERROR_IO, errno, "Reading serial port");
 
+        /* If we're using VMIN or VMIN+VTIME semantics for end of read, return now */
+        if (serial->use_termios_timeout)
+            return ret;
+
         /* Empty read */
         if (ret == 0 && len != 0)
             return _serial_error(serial, SERIAL_ERROR_IO, 0, "Reading serial port: unexpected empty read");
@@ -576,6 +583,8 @@ int serial_set_vmin(serial_t *serial, unsigned int vmin) {
     if (tcsetattr(serial->fd, TCSANOW, &termios_settings) < 0)
         return _serial_error(serial, SERIAL_ERROR_CONFIGURE, errno, "Setting serial port attributes");
 
+    serial->use_termios_timeout = vmin > 0;
+
     return 0;
 }