Abstract: An arbitration controller provides arbitration on a multipoint, high speed serial bus with a plurality of drivers. Each driver includes a data input pin, an output enable pin, and an output pin. The bus defaults to a first state when the output of the plurality of drivers are set to high impedance. The arbitration controller eliminates any unstable output states on the drivers by controlling the input signals on the drivers. The arbitration controller detects when the bus is in an arbitration mode. When this is detected, the arbitration controller inputs data to the output enable pin and inputs an opposite state of the first state to the data input pin. Further, the arbitration controller detects when the bus is in a data mode. When this is detected, the arbitration controller inputs data to the data input pin and inputs a driver control signal to the output enable pin.