A method and system for providing indeterminate read data latency in a memory system. The method includes determining if a local data packet has been received. If a local data packet has been received, then the local data packet is stored into a buffer device. The method also includes determining if the buffer device contains a data packet and determining if an upstream driver for transmitting data packets to a memory controller via an upstream channel is idle. If the buffer contains a data packet and the upstream driver is idle, then the data packet is transmitted to the upstream driver. The method further includes determining if an upstream data packet has been received. The upstream data packet is in a frame format that includes a frame start indicator and an identification tag for use by the memory controller in associating the upstream data packet with its corresponding read instruction. If an upstream data packet has been received and the upstream driver is not idle, then the upstream data packet is stored into the buffer device. If an upstream data packet has been received and the buffer device does not contain a data packet and the upstream driver is idle, then the upstream data packet is transmitted to the upstream driver. If the upstream driver is not idle, then any data packets in progress are continued being transmitted to the upstream driver.