diff --git a/components/LD2450/LD2450.cpp b/components/LD2450/LD2450.cpp
index c70c2b9..38a6105 100644
--- a/components/LD2450/LD2450.cpp
+++ b/components/LD2450/LD2450.cpp
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ namespace esphome::ld2450
                     else
                     {
                         command_queue_.erase(command_queue_.begin());
-                        command_send_retries_ = 0;
                     }
+                    command_send_retries_ = 0;
                     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "Sending command timed out! Is the sensor connected?");
                 }
                 else
@@ -132,36 +132,41 @@ namespace esphome::ld2450
         {
             // Inject leave config command after clearing the queue
             command_queue_.push_back({COMMAND_LEAVE_CONFIG, 0x00});
+            command_send_retries_ = 0;
         }
 
         // Skip stream until start of message and parse header
-        while (!peek_status_ && available() >= 4)
+        if (!peek_status_ && available() >= 4)
         {
             // Try to read the header and abort on mismatch
             const uint8_t *header;
             bool skip = false;
-            uint8_t target;
-            if (peek() == update_header[0])
+            uint8_t message_type;
+            uint8_t first_byte = read();
+            if (first_byte == update_header[0])
             {
                 header = update_header;
-                target = 1;
+                message_type = 1;
             }
-            else
+            else if (first_byte == config_header[0])
             {
                 header = config_header;
-                target = 2;
+                message_type = 2;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                skip = true;
             }
 
-            for (int i = 0; i < 4 && !skip; i++)
+            for (int i = 1; i < 4 && !skip; i++)
             {
                 if (read() != header[i])
                     skip = true;
             }
-            if (skip)
-                continue;
 
-            // Flag successful header reading
-            peek_status_ = target;
+            if (!skip)
+                // Flag successful header reading
+                peek_status_ = message_type;
         }
 
         if (peek_status_ == 1 && available() >= 28)
@@ -411,7 +416,7 @@ namespace esphome::ld2450
 
         // Write message length
         write(static_cast<uint8_t>(len));
-        write(static_cast<uint8_t>(len << 8));
+        write(static_cast<uint8_t>(len >> 8));
 
         // Write message content
         write_array(msg, len);
diff --git a/components/LD2450/LD2450.h b/components/LD2450/LD2450.h
index 9d96cf9..56fe397 100644
--- a/components/LD2450/LD2450.h
+++ b/components/LD2450/LD2450.h
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 #define SENSOR_UNAVAILABLE_TIMEOUT 1000
 
-#define COMMAND_MAX_RETRIES 5
+#define COMMAND_MAX_RETRIES 10
 #define COMMAND_RETRY_DELAY 100
 
 #define COMMAND_ENTER_CONFIG 0xFF
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ namespace esphome::ld2450
         int configuration_message_length_ = 0;
 
         /// @brief timestamp of the last message which was sent to the sensor
-        long command_last_sent_ = 0;
+        uint32_t command_last_sent_ = 0;
 
         /// @brief timestamp of the last received message
         uint32_t last_message_received_ = 0;
diff --git a/components/LD2450/target.h b/components/LD2450/target.h
index d44adcc..d6e8ba1 100644
--- a/components/LD2450/target.h
+++ b/components/LD2450/target.h
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ namespace esphome::ld2450
          * @brief Time since last last change in values.
          * @return timestamp in milliseconds since start
          */
-        long get_last_change()
+        uint32_t get_last_change()
         {
             return last_change_;
         }
@@ -206,10 +206,10 @@ namespace esphome::ld2450
         bool fast_off_detection_ = false;
 
         /// @brief time stamp of the last debug message which was sent.
-        long last_debug_message_ = 0;
+        uint32_t last_debug_message_ = 0;
 
         /// @brief time of the last value change
-        long last_change_ = 0;
+        uint32_t last_change_ = 0;
 
         /// @brief sensor reference of the x position sensor
         PollingSensor *x_position_sensor_ = nullptr;
diff --git a/components/LD2450/zone.h b/components/LD2450/zone.h
index fba2827..cff0d72 100644
--- a/components/LD2450/zone.h
+++ b/components/LD2450/zone.h
@@ -143,6 +143,6 @@ namespace esphome::ld2450
         int target_timeout_ = 5000;
 
         /// @brief Map of targets which are currently tracked inside of this polygon with their last seen timestamp
-        std::map<Target *, long> tracked_targets_{};
+        std::map<Target *, uint32_t> tracked_targets_{};
     };
 } // namespace esphome::ld2450