diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/ui.cc b/selfdrive/ui/ui.cc
index ddf320e53..7e03ea13a 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/ui.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/ui.cc
@@ -244,14 +244,13 @@ void ui_update(UIState *s) {
   }
 
   // Handle controls timeout
-  bool controls_timeout = ((s->sm)->frame - (s->sm)->rcv_frame("controlsState")) > 10*UI_FREQ;
-  if (s->started && !s->scene.frontview && controls_timeout) {
+  if (s->started && !s->scene.frontview && ((s->sm)->frame - s->started_frame) > 5*UI_FREQ) {
     if ((s->sm)->rcv_frame("controlsState") < s->started_frame) {
       // car is started, but controlsState hasn't been seen at all
       s->scene.alert_text1 = "openpilot Unavailable";
       s->scene.alert_text2 = "Waiting for controls to start";
       s->scene.alert_size = cereal::ControlsState::AlertSize::MID;
-    } else {
+    } else if (((s->sm)->frame - (s->sm)->rcv_frame("controlsState")) > 5*UI_FREQ) {
       // car is started, but controls is lagging or died
       if (s->scene.alert_text2 != "Controls Unresponsive") {
         s->sound->play(AudibleAlert::CHIME_WARNING_REPEAT);