diff --git a/hyperactor/src/channel/net.rs b/hyperactor/src/channel/net.rs
index 3557af98f..71dde0ce9 100644
--- a/hyperactor/src/channel/net.rs
+++ b/hyperactor/src/channel/net.rs
@@ -772,7 +772,9 @@ impl<M: RemoteMessage> NetTx<M> {
 
             if !matches!(state, State::Closing { .. }) {
                 if let Conn::Disconnected(ref mut backoff) = conn {
-                    RealClock.sleep(backoff.next_backoff().unwrap()).await;
+                    if let Some(nxt_backoff) = backoff.next_backoff() {
+                        RealClock.sleep(nxt_backoff).await;
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }; // loop