diff --git a/src/app-layer-parser.c b/src/app-layer-parser.c
index 9b86782a7a..18b8d7d2d3 100644
--- a/src/app-layer-parser.c
+++ b/src/app-layer-parser.c
@@ -2271,7 +2271,8 @@ static inline void AppLayerInsertNewProbingParser(AppLayerProbingParser **pp,
 void AppLayerRegisterParserAcceptableDataDirection(uint16_t al_proto,
                                                    uint8_t flags)
 {
-    al_proto_table[al_proto].flags |= (flags & (STREAM_TOSERVER | STREAM_TOCLIENT));
+    al_proto_table[al_proto].first_data_dir |=
+        (flags & (STREAM_TOSERVER | STREAM_TOCLIENT));
 
     return;
 }
diff --git a/src/app-layer-parser.h b/src/app-layer-parser.h
index d7e7b5ab31..9b2e270b34 100644
--- a/src/app-layer-parser.h
+++ b/src/app-layer-parser.h
@@ -73,8 +73,10 @@ typedef struct AppLayerProto_ {
                              int *event_id, AppLayerEventType *event_type);
 
     ProbingParserFPtr PPAlprotoMap[2];
-    /* The current values taken are STREAM_TOSERVER, STREAM_TOCLIENT */
-    uint8_t flags;
+    /* Indicates the direction the parser is ready to see the data
+     * the first time for a flow.  Values accepted -
+     * STREAM_TOSERVER, STREAM_TOCLIENT */
+    uint8_t first_data_dir;
 
 #ifdef UNITTESTS
     void (*RegisterUnittests)(void);
diff --git a/src/app-layer.c b/src/app-layer.c
index 648c245d6d..61fc26eb53 100644
--- a/src/app-layer.c
+++ b/src/app-layer.c
@@ -202,6 +202,8 @@ int AppLayerHandleTCPData(ThreadVars *tv, TcpReassemblyThreadCtx *ra_ctx,
             f->alproto = *alproto;
             StreamTcpSetStreamFlagAppProtoDetectionCompleted(stream);
 
+            /* if we have seen data from the other direction first, send
+             * data for that direction first to the parser */
             if ((ssn->data_first_seen_dir & (STREAM_TOSERVER | STREAM_TOCLIENT)) &&
                 !(flags & ssn->data_first_seen_dir)) {
                 TcpStream *opposing_stream = NULL;
@@ -229,8 +231,26 @@ int AppLayerHandleTCPData(ThreadVars *tv, TcpReassemblyThreadCtx *ra_ctx,
                 }
             }
 
+            /* if the parser operates such that it needs to see data from
+             * a particular direction first, we check if we have seen
+             * data from that direction first for the flow.  IF it is not
+             * the same, we set an event and exit.
+             *
+             * \todo We need to figure out a more robust solution for this,
+             *       as this can lead to easy evasion tactics, where the
+             *       attackeer can first send some dummy data in the wrong
+             *       direction first to mislead our proto detection process.
+             *       While doing this we need to update the parsers as well,
+             *       since the parsers must be robust to see such wrong
+             *       direction data.
+             *       Either ways the moment we see the
+             *       APPLAYER_WRONG_DIRECTION_FIRST_DATA event set for the
+             *       flow, it shows something's fishy.
+             */
             if (ssn->data_first_seen_dir != APP_LAYER_DATA_ALREADY_SENT_TO_APP_LAYER) {
-                if (al_proto_table[*alproto].flags && !(al_proto_table[*alproto].flags & ssn->data_first_seen_dir)) {
+                if (al_proto_table[*alproto].first_data_dir &&
+                    !(al_proto_table[*alproto].first_data_dir & ssn->data_first_seen_dir))
+                {
                     AppLayerDecoderEventsSetEventRaw(p->app_layer_events,
                                                      APPLAYER_WRONG_DIRECTION_FIRST_DATA);
                     r = -1;