diff --git a/src/kaleidoscope/hardware/ErgoDoxScanner.cpp b/src/kaleidoscope/hardware/ErgoDoxScanner.cpp
index 630dc3d3..7ed32212 100644
--- a/src/kaleidoscope/hardware/ErgoDoxScanner.cpp
+++ b/src/kaleidoscope/hardware/ErgoDoxScanner.cpp
@@ -185,15 +185,16 @@ out:
 
 void
 ErgoDoxScanner::reattachExpanderOnError() {
-  static uint8_t attach_counter;
+  static uint32_t start_time = millis();
 
   if (!expander_error_)
     return;
 
-  if (attach_counter++ != 0)
+  if (millis() - start_time < 5000)
     return;
 
   expander_error_ = initExpander();
+  start_time = millis();
 }
 
 }