diff --git a/pymodbus/framer/rtu_framer.py b/pymodbus/framer/rtu_framer.py
index 2cc8fe164e..2a73f78418 100644
--- a/pymodbus/framer/rtu_framer.py
+++ b/pymodbus/framer/rtu_framer.py
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ def checkFrame(self):
         2. Discard frame if UID does not match
         """
         try:
-            self.populateHeader()
             frame_size = self._header["len"]
             data = self._buffer[: frame_size - 2]
             crc = self._header["crc"]
@@ -131,16 +130,15 @@ def isFrameReady(self):
 
         :returns: True if ready, False otherwise
         """
-        if len(self._buffer) <= self._hsize:
-            return False
 
-        try:
-            # Frame is ready only if populateHeader() successfully
-            # populates crc field which finishes RTU frame otherwise,
-            # if buffer is not yet long enough, populateHeader() raises IndexError
-            self.populateHeader()
-        except IndexError:
-            return False
+        size = self._header.get('len', 0)
+        if size == 0 and len(self._buffer) > self._hsize:
+            try:
+                size = self.populateHeader()
+            except IndexError:
+                return False
+
+        return len(self._buffer) >= size if size > 0 else False
 
         return True
 
@@ -164,6 +162,7 @@ def populateHeader(self, data=None):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
             # crc yet not available
             raise IndexError
         self._header["crc"] = data[size - 2 : size]
+        return size
 
     def addToFrame(self, message):
         """Add the received data to the buffer handle.