A PCI Express device is provided. The PCI Express device includes a symbol lock module that includes a state machine for detecting a special character in a serial bit stream received from a serial/de-serializer, wherein the state machine receives a first special character and verifies alignment of the special character by comparing with a previously stored alignment value and the state machine declares a symbol lock if at least more than one special character alignment matches with a same stored alignment value. The special character is a comma sequence. After a symbol lock is declared, the state machine continues to monitor incoming bit stream data and compares each new special character alignment with the previously stored alignment value. During the monitoring if a misaligned special character is detected, then the state machine waits to receive another special character before declaring a loss of synchronization.