diff --git a/minimateplus/client.py b/minimateplus/client.py
index 471a266..767d104 100644
--- a/minimateplus/client.py
+++ b/minimateplus/client.py
@@ -895,14 +895,14 @@ class MiniMateClient:
 
         Write payloads:
           event_index_data : 88 bytes  — read live via SUB 08
-          compliance_data  : 2128 bytes — read live via SUB 1A (2126 bytes) + \\x00\\x00 footer
+          compliance_data  : ~2128 bytes — read live via SUB 1A (~2126 bytes, varies ±1-2) + \\x00\\x00 footer
           trigger_data     : 29 bytes  — hardcoded from 3-11-26 capture
           waveform_data    : 204 bytes — read live via SUB 09
 
         Raises:
             RuntimeError:  if not connected.
             ProtocolError: if any read or write step fails.
-            ValueError:    if compliance buffer is not the expected 2126 bytes.
+            ValueError:    if compliance buffer is shorter than the 2082-byte write minimum.
         """
         proto = self._require_proto()
 
@@ -911,7 +911,7 @@ class MiniMateClient:
         event_index_data = proto.read_event_index()
 
         log.info("apply_config: reading compliance config (SUB 1A)")
-        compliance_raw = proto.read_compliance_config()      # 2126 bytes
+        compliance_raw = proto.read_compliance_config()      # ~2126 bytes (varies ±1-2 by DLE jitter)
 
         log.info("apply_config: reading waveform data (SUB 09)")
         waveform_data = proto.read_waveform_data_raw()       # 204 bytes
@@ -1806,10 +1806,26 @@ def _encode_compliance_config(
         by the device in POC test 2026-04-07.)
 
     Raises:
-        ValueError: if raw is not exactly 2126 bytes.
+        ValueError: if raw is shorter than the minimum needed for the 3-chunk write.
     """
-    if len(raw) != 2126:
-        raise ValueError(f"_encode_compliance_config: expected 2126 bytes, got {len(raw)}")
+    # Total size is nominally ~2126 bytes but varies by ±1-2 bytes depending on
+    # DLE jitter in the E5 read response (0x10 bytes in the config data cause
+    # 1-byte expansions per occurrence during DLE stuffing/unstuffing).  The
+    # anchor-based field access and the chunk splitter (fixed chunk1=1027,
+    # chunk2=1055, chunk3=remainder) both handle variable length correctly.
+    # Only enforce a minimum — must have at least chunk1+chunk2 bytes of content.
+    _MIN_COMPLIANCE_LEN = 1027 + 1055  # = 2082
+    if len(raw) < _MIN_COMPLIANCE_LEN:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"_encode_compliance_config: compliance buffer too short "
+            f"({len(raw)} bytes, need at least {_MIN_COMPLIANCE_LEN})"
+        )
+    if len(raw) not in range(2124, 2132):
+        log.warning(
+            "_encode_compliance_config: unusual compliance buffer length %d "
+            "(expected ~2126); proceeding with anchor-based access",
+            len(raw),
+        )
 
     buf = bytearray(raw)