diff --git a/application.c b/application.c
index 4494890..1dfaf74 100644
--- a/application.c
+++ b/application.c
@@ -1051,7 +1051,11 @@ void main(void)
 	puts_debug("setup ESP8266 Art-Net: ");
 	sleep_ms(1000); // wit for ESP to boot
 	radio_esp8266_setup(); // connect to WiFi network
+	if (!radio_esp8266_connected()) { // check if we are connected
+		radio_esp8266_reset();
+	}
 	radio_esp8266_listen(true, 6454); // open UDP Art-Net
+	bool net_connected = true; // remember we are connected
 	puts_debug("OK");
 
 	// setup terminal
@@ -1100,6 +1104,16 @@ void main(void)
 		if (second_flag) { // one second passed
 			second_flag = false; // clear flag
 			led_toggle(); // toggle LED to indicate if main function is stuck
+			if (net_connected) {
+				net_connected = false; // reset flag
+			} else {
+				if (!radio_esp8266_connected()) { // check if we are connected
+					puts("not connected: resetting network");
+					radio_esp8266_reset(); // restart and try to reconnect
+					radio_esp8266_listen(true, 6454); // open UDP Art-Net
+				}
+				net_connected = true; // remember we are connected
+			}
 		}
 		if (0 == gpio_get(GPIO_PORT(DRV8825_FAULT_PIN), GPIO_PIN(DRV8825_FAULT_PIN))) { // DRV8825 stepper motor error reports error
 			gpio_set(GPIO_PORT(DRV8825_ENABLE_PIN), GPIO_PIN(DRV8825_ENABLE_PIN)); // disable motor
@@ -1125,6 +1139,7 @@ void main(void)
 			action = true; // redo main loop
 		}
 		if (radio_esp8266_received_len) {
+			net_connected = true; // we are connected since we received data
 			if (radio_esp8266_received_len >= 18 && 0 == memcmp((char*)radio_esp8266_received, "Art-Net", 7)) {
 				const uint16_t dmx_universe = radio_esp8266_received[14] + (radio_esp8266_received[15] << 8);
 				const uint16_t dmx_length = radio_esp8266_received[17] + (radio_esp8266_received[16] << 8);