diff --git a/kittens/transfer/receive.py b/kittens/transfer/receive.py
index 707128ba5..2b51470a9 100644
--- a/kittens/transfer/receive.py
+++ b/kittens/transfer/receive.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from kitty.cli_stub import TransferCLIOptions
 from kitty.fast_data_types import FILE_TRANSFER_CODE, wcswidth
 from kitty.file_transmission import (
     Action, Compression, FileTransmissionCommand, FileType, NameReprEnum,
-    encode_bypass
+    TransmissionType, encode_bypass, split_for_transfer
 )
 from kitty.typing import KeyEventType
 from kitty.utils import sanitize_control_codes
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from ..tui.loop import Loop, debug
 from ..tui.operations import styled, without_line_wrap
 from ..tui.spinners import Spinner
 from ..tui.utils import human_size
+from .librsync import signature_of_file
 from .send import Transfer
 from .utils import (
     expand_home, random_id, render_progress_in_width, safe_divide,
@@ -208,7 +209,7 @@ class Manager:
 
     def __init__(
         self, request_id: str, spec: List[str], dest: str,
-        bypass: Optional[str] = None
+        bypass: Optional[str] = None, use_rsync: bool = False
     ):
         self.request_id = request_id
         self.spec = spec
@@ -223,6 +224,7 @@ class Manager:
         self.files: List[File] = []
         self.progress_tracker = ProgressTracker()
         self.transfer_done = False
+        self.use_rsync = use_rsync
 
     def start_transfer(self) -> Iterator[str]:
         yield FileTransmissionCommand(action=Action.receive, bypass=self.bypass, size=len(self.spec)).serialize()
@@ -274,10 +276,24 @@ class Manager:
         for f in self.files:
             if f.ftype is FileType.directory or (f.ftype is FileType.link and f.remote_target):
                 continue
+            read_signature = self.use_rsync
+            if read_signature and f.ftype is FileType.regular:
+                try:
+                    sr = os.stat(f.expanded_local_path, follow_symlinks=False)
+                except OSError:
+                    read_signature = False
+                else:
+                    read_signature = sr.st_size > 4096
             yield FileTransmissionCommand(
-                action=Action.file, name=f.remote_path, file_id=f.file_id,
+                action=Action.file, name=f.remote_path, file_id=f.file_id, ttype=TransmissionType.rsync if read_signature else TransmissionType.simple,
                 compression=Compression.zlib if f.compression_capable else Compression.none
             ).serialize()
+            if read_signature:
+                fs = signature_of_file(f.expanded_local_path)
+                for chunk in fs:
+                    for data in split_for_transfer(chunk, file_id=f.file_id):
+                        yield data.serialize()
+                yield FileTransmissionCommand(file_id=f.file_id, action=Action.end_data).serialize()
 
     def collect_files(self, cli_opts: TransferCLIOptions) -> None:
         self.files = list(files_for_receive(cli_opts, self.dest, self.files, self.remote_home, self.spec))
@@ -345,7 +361,7 @@ class Receive(Handler):
 
     def __init__(self, cli_opts: TransferCLIOptions, spec: List[str], dest: str = ''):
         self.cli_opts = cli_opts
-        self.manager = Manager(random_id(), spec, dest, bypass=cli_opts.permissions_bypass)
+        self.manager = Manager(random_id(), spec, dest, bypass=cli_opts.permissions_bypass, use_rsync=cli_opts.transmit_deltas)
         self.quit_after_write_code: Optional[int] = None
         self.check_paths_printed = False
         self.transmit_started = False
@@ -353,6 +369,7 @@ class Receive(Handler):
         self.spinner = Spinner()
         self.progress_update_call: Optional[TimerHandle] = None
         self.progress_drawn = False
+        self.transmit_iterator: Optional[Iterator[str]] = None
 
     def send_payload(self, payload: str) -> None:
         self.write(self.manager.prefix)
@@ -454,11 +471,28 @@ class Receive(Handler):
 
     def start_transfer(self) -> None:
         self.transmit_started = True
-        self.print(f'Queueing transfer of {len(self.manager.files)} files(s)')
-        for x in self.manager.request_files():
-            self.send_payload(x)
+        if self.manager.use_rsync:
+            self.print(f'Transmitting signatures of {len(self.manager.files)} files(s)')
+        else:
+            self.print(f'Queueing transfer of {len(self.manager.files)} files(s)')
         names = (f.display_name for f in self.manager.files)
         self.max_name_length = max(6, max(map(wcswidth, names)))
+        self.transmit_iterator = self.manager.request_files()
+        self.transmit_one()
+
+    def transmit_one(self) -> None:
+        if self.transmit_iterator is None:
+            return
+        try:
+            data = next(self.transmit_iterator)
+        except StopIteration:
+            self.transmit_iterator = None
+        except Exception as err:
+            self.print_err(str(err))
+            self.print('Waiting to ensure terminal cancels transfer, will quit in a few seconds')
+            self.abort_transfer()
+        else:
+            self.send_payload(data)
 
     def print_err(self, msg: str) -> None:
         self.cmd.styled(msg, fg='red')
@@ -567,6 +601,8 @@ class Receive(Handler):
     def on_writing_finished(self) -> None:
         if self.quit_after_write_code is not None:
             self.quit_loop(self.quit_after_write_code)
+        elif self.transmit_iterator is not None:
+            self.transmit_one()
 
 
 def receive_main(cli_opts: TransferCLIOptions, args: List[str]) -> None: