A method and apparatus for optimizing the performance of a multibus data processing system is provided. An I/O controller is coupled to the I/O bus and includes MORE bit setting means for initiating a MORE stream transaction on the I/O bus and for thereafter terminating the MORE stream transaction. An adapter coupling the I/O bus to the system bus, is configured to receive the MORE stream transaction and transfer it to main memory. The adapter includes MORE bit decoding means for identifying the beginning and the end of the MORE stream transaction, and for identifying whether the MORE stream transaction is a READ or WRITE transaction. The adapter also includes a first buffer for receiving data from the I/O bus and transferring the data to the memory in accordance with the memory's full block transfer size, and a second buffer for receiving a full block of data and transferring that data in accordance with the I/O bus transaction limitations. The adapter is capable of invalidating data located in the first buffer and clearing data located in the second buffer in accordance with a discard transaction when the I/O controller fails to properly terminate the MORE stream transaction.