The AEQ process steps through allowed values of the equalizer controls find a value that allows the Clock Data Recovery (CDR) circuit to maintain valid lock condition. For each EQ setting, the circuit waits for a programmed re-lock time period, then checks results for valid lock. If valid lock is detected, the circuit will stop at the current EQ setting and maintain constant value as long as lock state persists. If the deserializer loses LOCK, the adaptive equalizer will resume the LOCK algorithm and the EQ setting is incremented to the next valid state. Once lock is lost, the circuit will continue searching EQ settings to find a valid setting to reacquire the serial data stream sent by the serializer that remains locked.