diff --git a/src/bub/channels/handler.py b/src/bub/channels/handler.py
index 24e664d..7d9056b 100644
--- a/src/bub/channels/handler.py
+++ b/src/bub/channels/handler.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import asyncio
+from collections import deque
+from dataclasses import dataclass
 
 from loguru import logger
 
@@ -6,45 +8,117 @@
 from bub.types import MessageHandler
 
 
+@dataclass
+class _CommandItem:
+    message: ChannelMessage
+
+
+@dataclass
+class _BatchItem:
+    """A batch of consecutive non-command messages."""
+
+    loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop
+    messages: list[ChannelMessage]
+    ready: asyncio.Event
+    timer: asyncio.TimerHandle | None = None
+    sealed: bool = False
+
+    def schedule(self, timeout: float) -> None:
+        if self.sealed:
+            return
+        self.ready.clear()
+        if self.timer is not None:
+            self.timer.cancel()
+        self.timer = self.loop.call_later(timeout, self._fire)
+
+    def _fire(self) -> None:
+        self.timer = None
+        self.sealed = True
+        self.ready.set()
+
+
 class BufferedMessageHandler:
-    """A message handler that buffers incoming messages and processes them in batch with debounce and active time window."""
+    """Per-session message buffer with batching and strict arrival-order serialization."""
 
     def __init__(
         self, handler: MessageHandler, *, active_time_window: float, max_wait_seconds: float, debounce_seconds: float
     ) -> None:
         self._handler = handler
-        self._pending_messages: list[ChannelMessage] = []
-        self._last_active_time: float | None = None
-        self._event = asyncio.Event()
-        self._timer: asyncio.TimerHandle | None = None
-        self._in_processing: asyncio.Task | None = None
         self._loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
 
+        self._work: deque[_CommandItem | _BatchItem] = deque()
+        self._in_processing: asyncio.Task | None = None
+
+        self._last_active_time: float | None = None
         self.active_time_window = active_time_window
         self.max_wait_seconds = max_wait_seconds
         self.debounce_seconds = debounce_seconds
 
-    def _reset_timer(self, timeout: float) -> None:
-        self._event.clear()
-        if self._timer:
-            self._timer.cancel()
-        self._timer = self._loop.call_later(timeout, self._event.set)
+    @staticmethod
+    def _is_command(message: ChannelMessage) -> bool:
+        return message.content.startswith(",")
+
+    def _ensure_worker(self) -> None:
+        if self._in_processing is None:
+            self._in_processing = asyncio.create_task(self._process())
+
+    def _append_to_tail_batch(self, message: ChannelMessage) -> _BatchItem:
+        if self._work and isinstance(self._work[-1], _BatchItem) and not self._work[-1].sealed:
+            batch = self._work[-1]
+            batch.messages.append(message)
+            return batch
+
+        batch = _BatchItem(loop=self._loop, messages=[message], ready=asyncio.Event())
+        self._work.append(batch)
+        return batch
 
     async def _process(self) -> None:
-        await self._event.wait()
-        message = ChannelMessage.from_batch(self._pending_messages)
-        self._pending_messages.clear()
-        self._in_processing = None
-        await self._handler(message)
+        try:
+            while True:
+                if not self._work:
+                    return
+
+                item = self._work[0]
+                if isinstance(item, _CommandItem):
+                    self._work.popleft()
+                    try:
+                        await self._handler(item.message)
+                    except asyncio.CancelledError:
+                        raise
+                    except Exception:
+                        logger.exception(
+                            "session.message command handler failed session_id={}, content={}",
+                            item.message.session_id,
+                            item.message.content,
+                        )
+                    continue
+
+                await item.ready.wait()
+                self._work.popleft()
+                try:
+                    merged = ChannelMessage.from_batch(item.messages)
+                    await self._handler(merged)
+                except asyncio.CancelledError:
+                    raise
+                except Exception:
+                    session_id = item.messages[-1].session_id if item.messages else "unknown"
+                    logger.exception("session.message batch handler failed session_id={}", session_id)
+        finally:
+            self._in_processing = None
+            if self._work:
+                self._ensure_worker()
 
     async def __call__(self, message: ChannelMessage) -> None:
         now = self._loop.time()
-        if message.content.startswith(","):
+
+        if self._is_command(message):
             logger.info(
                 "session.message received command session_id={}, content={}", message.session_id, message.content
             )
-            await self._handler(message)
+            self._work.append(_CommandItem(message))
+            self._ensure_worker()
             return
+
         if not message.is_active and (
             self._last_active_time is None or now - self._last_active_time > self.active_time_window
         ):
@@ -53,16 +127,19 @@ async def __call__(self, message: ChannelMessage) -> None:
                 "session.message received ignored session_id={}, content={}", message.session_id, message.content
             )
             return
-        self._pending_messages.append(message)
+
+        batch = self._append_to_tail_batch(message)
+
         if message.is_active:
             self._last_active_time = now
             logger.info(
                 "session.message received active session_id={}, content={}", message.session_id, message.content
             )
-            self._reset_timer(self.debounce_seconds)
-            if self._in_processing is None:
-                self._in_processing = asyncio.create_task(self._process())
-        elif self._last_active_time is not None and self._in_processing is None:
+            batch.schedule(self.debounce_seconds)
+            self._ensure_worker()
+            return
+
+        if self._last_active_time is not None:
             logger.info("session.receive followup session_id={} message={}", message.session_id, message.content)
-            self._reset_timer(self.max_wait_seconds)
-            self._in_processing = asyncio.create_task(self._process())
+            batch.schedule(self.max_wait_seconds)
+            self._ensure_worker()
diff --git a/tests/test_channels.py b/tests/test_channels.py
index 7e5bee7..a1adf9f 100644
--- a/tests/test_channels.py
+++ b/tests/test_channels.py
@@ -78,9 +78,11 @@ def _message(
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_buffered_handler_passes_commands_through_immediately() -> None:
     handled: list[str] = []
+    done = asyncio.Event()
 
     async def receive(message: ChannelMessage) -> None:
         handled.append(message.content)
+        done.set()
 
     handler = BufferedMessageHandler(
         receive,
@@ -90,10 +92,116 @@ async def receive(message: ChannelMessage) -> None:
     )
 
     await handler(_message(",help"))
+    await asyncio.wait_for(done.wait(), timeout=1)
 
     assert handled == [",help"]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_buffered_handler_batches_active_and_followup_messages() -> None:
+    handled: list[str] = []
+    done = asyncio.Event()
+
+    async def receive(message: ChannelMessage) -> None:
+        handled.append(message.content)
+        done.set()
+
+    handler = BufferedMessageHandler(
+        receive,
+        active_time_window=10,
+        max_wait_seconds=0.01,
+        debounce_seconds=0.05,
+    )
+
+    await handler(_message("a", is_active=True))
+    await handler(_message("b"))
+    await asyncio.wait_for(done.wait(), timeout=1)
+
+    assert handled == ["a\nb"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_buffered_handler_serializes_messages_while_handler_is_running() -> None:
+    handled: list[str] = []
+    first_started = asyncio.Event()
+    release_first = asyncio.Event()
+    max_inflight = 0
+    inflight = 0
+
+    async def receive(message: ChannelMessage) -> None:
+        nonlocal inflight, max_inflight
+        inflight += 1
+        max_inflight = max(max_inflight, inflight)
+        handled.append(message.content)
+        if message.content == "a":
+            first_started.set()
+            await release_first.wait()
+        inflight -= 1
+
+    handler = BufferedMessageHandler(
+        receive,
+        active_time_window=10,
+        max_wait_seconds=0.01,
+        debounce_seconds=0.01,
+    )
+
+    await handler(_message("a", is_active=True))
+    await asyncio.wait_for(first_started.wait(), timeout=1)
+
+    await handler(_message("b", is_active=True))
+    await asyncio.sleep(0.03)
+
+    assert handled == ["a"]
+    assert max_inflight == 1
+
+    release_first.set()
+    await _wait_for(lambda: handled == ["a", "b"])
+    assert max_inflight == 1
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_buffered_handler_preserves_order_around_commands() -> None:
+    handled: list[str] = []
+
+    async def receive(message: ChannelMessage) -> None:
+        handled.append(message.content)
+
+    handler = BufferedMessageHandler(
+        receive,
+        active_time_window=10,
+        max_wait_seconds=0.01,
+        debounce_seconds=0.01,
+    )
+
+    await handler(_message("a", is_active=True))
+    await handler(_message(",help"))
+    await handler(_message("b", is_active=True))
+
+    await _wait_for(lambda: handled == ["a", ",help", "b"])
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_buffered_handler_continues_after_handler_error() -> None:
+    handled: list[str] = []
+
+    async def receive(message: ChannelMessage) -> None:
+        if message.content == ",boom":
+            raise RuntimeError("boom")
+        handled.append(message.content)
+
+    handler = BufferedMessageHandler(
+        receive,
+        active_time_window=10,
+        max_wait_seconds=0.01,
+        debounce_seconds=0.01,
+    )
+
+    await handler(_message(",boom"))
+    await handler(_message(",ok"))
+
+    await _wait_for(lambda: handled == [",ok"])
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_channel_manager_dispatch_uses_output_channel_and_preserves_metadata() -> None:
     cli_channel = FakeChannel("cli")
@@ -155,6 +263,16 @@ async def __call__(self, message: ChannelMessage) -> None:
     assert isinstance(manager._session_handlers[message.session_id], StubBufferedMessageHandler)
 
 
+async def _wait_for(predicate, timeout: float = 1.0) -> None:
+    deadline = asyncio.get_running_loop().time() + timeout
+    while True:
+        if predicate():
+            return
+        if asyncio.get_running_loop().time() >= deadline:
+            raise AssertionError("condition not met before timeout")
+        await asyncio.sleep(0.001)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_channel_manager_shutdown_cancels_tasks_and_stops_enabled_channels() -> None:
     telegram = FakeChannel("telegram")