diff --git a/tasmota/tasmota_xdrv_driver/xdrv_56_rtc_chips.ino b/tasmota/tasmota_xdrv_driver/xdrv_56_rtc_chips.ino
index 01de30b39..a8f58ba40 100644
--- a/tasmota/tasmota_xdrv_driver/xdrv_56_rtc_chips.ino
+++ b/tasmota/tasmota_xdrv_driver/xdrv_56_rtc_chips.ino
@@ -404,6 +404,8 @@ NtpServer RtcChipTimeServer(PortUdp);
 void RtcChipEverySecond(void) {
   static bool ntp_server_started = false;
 
+  if (TasmotaGlobal.global_state.network_down) { return; }  // Exception on ESP32 if network is down (#17338)
+
   if (Settings->sbflag1.local_ntp_server && (Rtc.utc_time > START_VALID_TIME)) {
     if (!ntp_server_started) {
       if (RtcChipTimeServer.beginListening()) {
@@ -418,7 +420,7 @@ void RtcChipEverySecond(void) {
 
 void CmndRtcNtpServer(void) {
   // RtcChipNtpServer 0 or 1
-  if (XdrvMailbox.payload >= 0) {
+  if ((XdrvMailbox.payload >= 0) && !TasmotaGlobal.global_state.network_down) {
     Settings->sbflag1.local_ntp_server = 0;
     if ((XdrvMailbox.payload &1) && RtcChipTimeServer.beginListening()) {
       Settings->sbflag1.local_ntp_server = 1;
diff --git a/tasmota/tasmota_xsns_sensor/xsns_60_GPS.ino b/tasmota/tasmota_xsns_sensor/xsns_60_GPS.ino
index 0bf0b5e9e..b128af960 100644
--- a/tasmota/tasmota_xsns_sensor/xsns_60_GPS.ino
+++ b/tasmota/tasmota_xsns_sensor/xsns_60_GPS.ino
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ void UBXSelectMode(uint16_t mode)
       UBX.mode.send_when_new = 0; // only TELE
       break;
     case 9:
-      if (timeServer.beginListening()) {
+      if (!TasmotaGlobal.global_state.network_down && timeServer.beginListening()) {
         UBX.mode.runningNTP = true;
       }
       break;
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ void UBXLoop50msec(void)
     }
   }
   // handle NTP-server
-  if(UBX.mode.runningNTP){
+  if(!TasmotaGlobal.global_state.network_down && UBX.mode.runningNTP){
     timeServer.processOneRequest(UBX.rec_buffer.values.time, UBX.state.timeOffset - NTP_MILLIS_OFFSET);
   }
 }