diff --git a/lantz/visa.py b/lantz/visa.py
index bdd380d..6498354 100644
--- a/lantz/visa.py
+++ b/lantz/visa.py
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ class MessageVisaDriver(TextualMixin, Driver):
     ENCODING = 'ascii'
 
     RECV_CHUNK = -1
+    # When RECV_CHUNK==-1, read all available data, RECV_BUFFER_SIZE bytes at a
+    # time.
+    RECV_BUFFER_SIZE = 1<<8
 
     def __init__(self, resource_name, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -111,6 +114,30 @@ def finalize(self):
     def is_open(self):
         return self.vi is not None
 
+    def raw_recv(self, size):
+        """Receive raw bytes to the instrument.
+
+        :param size: number of bytes to receive
+        :return: received bytes
+        :return type: bytes
+
+        If a timeout is set, it may return less bytes than requested.
+        If size == -1, then the number of available bytes will be read.
+
+        """
+
+        if not size or size == -1:
+            buffers = []
+            while True:
+                data = self.visa.read(self.vi, self.RECV_BUFFER_SIZE)
+                buffers.append(data)
+                if len(data) < self.RECV_BUFFER_SIZE:
+                    # Timeout or terminator
+                    return b''.join(buffers)
+        else:
+            data = self.visa.read(self.vi, size)
+            return data
+
 
 class SerialVisaDriver(MessageVisaDriver):
     """Base class for drivers that communicate with instruments