diff --git a/wled00/wled.cpp b/wled00/wled.cpp
index b7f4ad7d6..3eeada515 100644
--- a/wled00/wled.cpp
+++ b/wled00/wled.cpp
@@ -796,6 +796,7 @@ void WLED::initConnection()
 #endif
 
   WiFi.disconnect(true); // close old connections
+  delay(5);              // wait for hardware to be ready
 #ifdef ESP8266
   WiFi.setPhyMode(force802_3g ? WIFI_PHY_MODE_11G : WIFI_PHY_MODE_11N);
 #endif