diff --git a/ur5_driver/driver.py b/ur5_driver/driver.py
index a22a145aea4892984d3562f260df1cf58bb8aed3..1104f0e4a6969428e10b81a64a3c7d037b88450a 100755
--- a/ur5_driver/driver.py
+++ b/ur5_driver/driver.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def getConnectedRobot(wait=False):
     with connected_robot_lock:
         if wait:
             while not connected_robot:
-                connected_robot_cond.wait()
+                connected_robot_cond.wait(0.5)
         return connected_robot
 
 # Receives messages from the robot over the socket