Azure · riteshrao · Jan 12, 2026 · Nov 20, 2025 · Jan 9, 2026 · Jan 9, 2026
diff --git a/.vscode/tasks.json b/.vscode/tasks.json
@@ -1,16 +1,21 @@
 {
-    "version": "0.1.0",
+    "version": "2.0.0",
     "command": "dotnet",
-    "isShellCommand": true,
     "args": [],
     "tasks": [
         {
-            "taskName": "msbuild",
+            "label": "msbuild",
+            "type": "shell",
+            "command": "dotnet",
             "args": [
+                "msbuild",
                 "dotnetty.sln"
             ],
-            "isBuildCommand": true,
-            "problemMatcher": "$msCompile"
+            "problemMatcher": "$msCompile",
+            "group": {
+                "kind": "build",
+                "isDefault": false
+            }
         }
     ]
 }
diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES.md b/RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+#### 0.8.0 January 8, 2026
+- Fix race condition in TlsHandler when negotiating client certificate (#602)
+- Deferred processing of pending data packets to ensure upstream handlers receive TlsHandshakeCompletionEvent before application data
+- Removed deprecated target frameworks: netcoreapp3.1 and net5.0
+- Added net8.0 target framework support
+
 #### 0.7.6 February 9, 2024
 - Fix TLS handshake for net8
 

diff --git a/build.cake b/build.cake
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ var output = Directory("build");
 var outputBinaries = output + Directory("binaries");
 var outputBinariesNet = outputBinaries + Directory("net472");
 var outputBinariesNetStandard = outputBinaries + Directory("netstandard2.0");
-var outputBinariesNet5 = outputBinaries + Directory("net5.0");
 var outputBinariesNet6 = outputBinaries + Directory("net6.0");
+var outputBinariesNet8 = outputBinaries + Directory("net8.0");
 var outputPackages = output + Directory("packages");
 var outputNuGet = output + Directory("nuget");
 var outputPerfResults = Directory("perfResults");
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ Task("Clean")
   CleanDirectories(new DirectoryPath[] {
     output, outputBinaries, outputPackages, outputNuGet,
     outputBinariesNet, outputBinariesNetStandard,
-    outputBinariesNet5, outputBinariesNet6  
+    outputBinariesNet6, outputBinariesNet8  
   });
 
   if(!skipClean) {

diff --git a/examples/Discard.Client/Discard.Client.csproj b/examples/Discard.Client/Discard.Client.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/Discard.Server/Discard.Server.csproj b/examples/Discard.Server/Discard.Server.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/Echo.Client/Echo.Client.csproj b/examples/Echo.Client/Echo.Client.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/Echo.Server/Echo.Server.csproj b/examples/Echo.Server/Echo.Server.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/Examples.Common/Examples.Common.csproj b/examples/Examples.Common/Examples.Common.csproj
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netstandard2.0' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/Factorial.Client/Factorial.Client.csproj b/examples/Factorial.Client/Factorial.Client.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/Factorial.Server/Factorial.Server.csproj b/examples/Factorial.Server/Factorial.Server.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/Factorial/Factorial.csproj b/examples/Factorial/Factorial.csproj
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netstandard2.0' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/HttpServer/HttpServer.csproj b/examples/HttpServer/HttpServer.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <ServerGarbageCollection>true</ServerGarbageCollection>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>

diff --git a/examples/QuoteOfTheMoment.Client/QuoteOfTheMoment.Client.csproj b/examples/QuoteOfTheMoment.Client/QuoteOfTheMoment.Client.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/QuoteOfTheMoment.Server/QuoteOfTheMoment.Server.csproj b/examples/QuoteOfTheMoment.Server/QuoteOfTheMoment.Server.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/SecureChat.Client/SecureChat.Client.csproj b/examples/SecureChat.Client/SecureChat.Client.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/SecureChat.Server/SecureChat.Server.csproj b/examples/SecureChat.Server/SecureChat.Server.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/Telnet.Client/Telnet.Client.csproj b/examples/Telnet.Client/Telnet.Client.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/Telnet.Server/Telnet.Server.csproj b/examples/Telnet.Server/Telnet.Server.csproj
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/WebSockets.Client/WebSockets.Client.csproj b/examples/WebSockets.Client/WebSockets.Client.csproj
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU</Platforms>

diff --git a/examples/WebSockets.Server/WebSockets.Server.csproj b/examples/WebSockets.Server/WebSockets.Server.csproj
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 
   <PropertyGroup>
     <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netcoreapp3.1;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
-    <NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion Condition=" '$(TargetFramework)' == 'netcoreapp3.1' ">2.0.3</NetStandardImplicitPackageVersion>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <GenerateAssemblyInfo>false</GenerateAssemblyInfo>
     <ServerGarbageCollection>true</ServerGarbageCollection>
     <Configurations>Debug;Release;Package</Configurations>

diff --git a/src/Directory.Build.props b/src/Directory.Build.props
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <GeneratePackageOnBuild Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Package'">True</GeneratePackageOnBuild>
     <IncludeSymbols>true</IncludeSymbols>
 
-    <PackageVersion>0.7.6</PackageVersion>
+    <PackageVersion>0.8.0</PackageVersion>
     <Version>$(PackageVersion)</Version>
   </PropertyGroup>
 

diff --git a/src/DotNetty.Buffers/DotNetty.Buffers.csproj b/src/DotNetty.Buffers/DotNetty.Buffers.csproj
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup Label="NuGet">
-    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <IsPackable>true</IsPackable>
     <Description>Buffer management in DotNetty</Description>
     <Copyright>© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.</Copyright>

diff --git a/src/DotNetty.Codecs.Http/DotNetty.Codecs.Http.csproj b/src/DotNetty.Codecs.Http/DotNetty.Codecs.Http.csproj
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup Label="NuGet">
-    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <IsPackable>true</IsPackable>
     <PackageId>DotNetty.Codecs.Http</PackageId>
     <Description>Http codec for DotNetty</Description>

diff --git a/src/DotNetty.Codecs.Mqtt/DotNetty.Codecs.Mqtt.csproj b/src/DotNetty.Codecs.Mqtt/DotNetty.Codecs.Mqtt.csproj
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup Label="NuGet">
-    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <IsPackable>true</IsPackable>
     <PackageId>DotNetty.Codecs.Mqtt</PackageId>
     <Description>MQTT codec for DotNetty</Description>

diff --git a/src/DotNetty.Codecs.Protobuf/DotNetty.Codecs.Protobuf.csproj b/src/DotNetty.Codecs.Protobuf/DotNetty.Codecs.Protobuf.csproj
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup Label="NuGet">
-    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <IsPackable>true</IsPackable>
     <PackageId>DotNetty.Codecs.Protobuf</PackageId>
     <Description>Protobuf Proto3 codec for DotNetty</Description>

diff --git a/src/DotNetty.Codecs.ProtocolBuffers/DotNetty.Codecs.ProtocolBuffers.csproj b/src/DotNetty.Codecs.ProtocolBuffers/DotNetty.Codecs.ProtocolBuffers.csproj
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup Label="NuGet">
-    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <IsPackable>true</IsPackable>
     <PackageId>DotNetty.Codecs.ProtocolBuffers</PackageId>
     <Description>ProtocolBuffers Proto2 codec for DotNetty</Description>

diff --git a/src/DotNetty.Codecs.Redis/DotNetty.Codecs.Redis.csproj b/src/DotNetty.Codecs.Redis/DotNetty.Codecs.Redis.csproj
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup Label="NuGet">
-    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <IsPackable>true</IsPackable>
     <PackageId>DotNetty.Codecs.Redis</PackageId>
     <Description>Redis codec for DotNetty</Description>

diff --git a/src/DotNetty.Codecs/DotNetty.Codecs.csproj b/src/DotNetty.Codecs/DotNetty.Codecs.csproj
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <IsPackable>true</IsPackable>
     <PackageId>DotNetty.Codecs</PackageId>
     <Description>General purpose codecs for DotNetty</Description>

diff --git a/src/DotNetty.Common/DotNetty.Common.csproj b/src/DotNetty.Common/DotNetty.Common.csproj
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup Label="NuGet">
-    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <IsPackable>true</IsPackable>
     <PackageId>DotNetty.Common</PackageId>
     <Description>DotNetty common routines</Description>

diff --git a/src/DotNetty.Handlers/DotNetty.Handlers.csproj b/src/DotNetty.Handlers/DotNetty.Handlers.csproj
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup Label="NuGet">
-    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <IsPackable>true</IsPackable>
     <PackageId>DotNetty.Handlers</PackageId>
     <Description>Application handlers for DotNetty</Description>

diff --git a/src/DotNetty.Handlers/Tls/TlsHandler.cs b/src/DotNetty.Handlers/Tls/TlsHandler.cs
@@ -142,25 +142,14 @@ static void HandleHandshakeCompletedInternal(Task task, TlsHandler self)
 
                     // Due to possible async execution of HandleHandshakeCompleted continuation, we need to
                     // Unwrap any pending app data packets in case, when read completed and no more messages in the channel.
+                    // 
+                    // IMPORTANT: We defer processing to the next event loop iteration to ensure that upstream handlers
+                    // have processed the TlsHandshakeCompletionEvent.Success before receiving application data.
+                    // This fixes a race condition where application data (e.g., MQTT CONNECT) arrives in the same
+                    // TCP segment as the final handshake message, and gets processed before handlers are ready.
                     if (self.pendingDataPackets != null && self.pendingDataPackets.Count > 0)
                     {
-                        ThreadLocalObjectList output = ThreadLocalObjectList.NewInstance();
-                        try
-                        {
-                            self.Unwrap(self.capturedContext, Unpooled.Empty, 0, 0, new List<(int packetLength, byte packetContentType)>(0), output);
-                            for (int i = 0; i < output.Count; i++)
-                            {
-                                self.capturedContext.FireChannelRead(output[i]);
-                            }
-                        }
-                        catch (Exception ex)
-                        {
-                            throw new DecoderException(ex);
-                        }
-                        finally
-                        {
-                            output.Return();
-                        }
+                        self.capturedContext.Executor.Execute(() => self.ProcessPendingDataPackets());
                     }
 
                     if (oldState.Has(TlsHandlerState.ReadRequestedBeforeAuthenticated) && !self.capturedContext.Channel.Configuration.AutoRead)
@@ -558,6 +547,43 @@ Task<int> ReadFromSslStreamAsync(IByteBuffer outputBuffer, int outputBufferLengt
             return this.sslStream.ReadAsync(outlet.Array, outlet.Offset, outlet.Count);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Process pending data packets that arrived before handshake completion was signaled.
+        /// This is called on the next event loop iteration to ensure upstream handlers have
+        /// processed the TlsHandshakeCompletionEvent before receiving application data.
+        /// </summary>
+        void ProcessPendingDataPackets()
+        {
+            if (this.pendingDataPackets == null || this.pendingDataPackets.Count == 0)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            ThreadLocalObjectList output = ThreadLocalObjectList.NewInstance();
+            try
+            {
+                this.Unwrap(this.capturedContext, Unpooled.Empty, 0, 0, new List<(int packetLength, byte packetContentType)>(0), output);
+                for (int i = 0; i < output.Count; i++)
+                {
+                    this.capturedContext.FireChannelRead(output[i]);
+                }
+
+                // Signal read complete after processing pending packets
+                if (output.Count > 0)
+                {
+                    this.capturedContext.FireChannelReadComplete();
+                }
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                this.HandleFailure(ex);
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                output.Return();
+            }
+        }
+
         public override void Read(IChannelHandlerContext context)
         {
             TlsHandlerState oldState = this.state;

diff --git a/src/DotNetty.Transport.Libuv/DotNetty.Transport.Libuv.csproj b/src/DotNetty.Transport.Libuv/DotNetty.Transport.Libuv.csproj
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
 
   <PropertyGroup Label="NuGet">
-    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net5.0;net6.0</TargetFrameworks>
+    <TargetFrameworks>netstandard2.0;net472;net6.0;net8.0</TargetFrameworks>
     <IsPackable>true</IsPackable>
     <PackageId>DotNetty.Transport.Libuv</PackageId>
     <Description>Libuv transport model in DotNetty</Description>