diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 4c7dd0d..6e23cb7 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -725,6 +725,13 @@ void setup() {
   attachMeters();
   applyMeters();
 
+  // Reset-counter settle window: if the device stays powered past this point it
+  // wasn't a rapid power-cycle, so clear the counter here — before the (possibly
+  // indefinitely blocking) WiFi portal — so a stuck/offline boot can't slowly
+  // accumulate into a false factory reset.
+  delay(3000);
+  LittleFS.remove("/reset_count");
+
   Serial.println("[WIFI] starting WiFiManager");
   WiFiManager wm;
   wm.setTitle("M1730");
@@ -747,7 +754,6 @@ void setup() {
   startMDNS();
   mqttReconnectAt = 0;
 
-  LittleFS.remove("/reset_count");
   Serial.printf("[BOOT] ready at http://%s.local or http://%s\n",
                 hostname, WiFi.localIP().toString().c_str());
 }