A system avoids false sampling due to reflections from previous commands or other noise on a data strobe line. The system uses a normalizer circuit or leaker circuit, and the data strobe line is not optimally terminated or is unterminated. The data strobe line is to receive a burst of data sample pulses or edges and sample a data line based on the edges. The receiving device includes logic that generates a count triggered from an initial edge on the data strobe line, and identifies, based on the count, an initial valid edge of the burst. Any false strobes due to noise or reflections that are received prior to the actual burst can be rejected.