diff --git a/gaugemqttcontinuous.py b/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
index a58b3f8..ce90d3f 100644
--- a/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
+++ b/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ _DEVICE = {
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 _wifi_reconnect_delay_s = 5
-_wifi_check_interval_ms = 5000
+_wifi_check_interval_ms = 30000
 _last_wifi_check = 0
 _wifi_sta = None
 
@@ -306,6 +306,7 @@ _target_value = GAUGE_MIN
 _last_rezero_ms = None  # set to ticks_ms() in main()
 client_ref = None
 _mqtt_connected = False
+_last_mqtt_check = 0
 
 
 def _publish(topic, payload, retain=False):
@@ -432,8 +433,17 @@ def connect_mqtt():
     return client
 
 
+_mqtt_check_interval_ms = 30000
+_last_mqtt_check = 0
+
+
 def check_mqtt():
-    global client_ref, _mqtt_connected
+    global client_ref, _mqtt_connected, _last_mqtt_check
+    now = utime.ticks_ms()
+    if utime.ticks_diff(now, _last_mqtt_check) < _mqtt_check_interval_ms:
+        return _mqtt_connected
+    _last_mqtt_check = now
+
     if client_ref is None:
         return False