diff --git a/concoredocker.py b/concoredocker.py
index 61a6a45..0f1714e 100644
--- a/concoredocker.py
+++ b/concoredocker.py
@@ -211,6 +211,11 @@ def read(port_identifier, name, initstr_val):
         zmq_p = zmq_ports[port_identifier]
         try:
             message = zmq_p.recv_json_with_retry()
+            if isinstance(message, list) and len(message) > 0:
+                first_element = message[0]
+                if isinstance(first_element, (int, float)):
+                    simtime = max(simtime, first_element)
+                    return message[1:]
             return message
         except zmq.error.ZMQError as e:
             logging.error(f"ZMQ read error on port {port_identifier} (name: {name}): {e}. Returning default.")