diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/networking.cc b/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/networking.cc
index 2d5651dcce..9c2088b1d7 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/networking.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/networking.cc
@@ -99,14 +99,12 @@ void Networking::wrongPassword(const QString &ssid) {
   }
 }
 
-void Networking::showEvent(QShowEvent* event) {
-  // Wait to refresh to avoid delay when showing Networking widget
-  QTimer::singleShot(300, this, [=]() {
-    if (this->isVisible()) {
-      wifi->refreshNetworks();
-      refresh();
-    }
-  });
+void Networking::showEvent(QShowEvent *event) {
+  wifi->start();
+}
+
+void Networking::hideEvent(QHideEvent *event) {
+  wifi->stop();
 }
 
 // AdvancedNetworking functions
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/networking.h b/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/networking.h
index 037ef82f67..e78d65ef0f 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/networking.h
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/networking.h
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ private:
 
 protected:
   void showEvent(QShowEvent* event) override;
+  void hideEvent(QHideEvent* event) override;
 
 public slots:
   void refresh();
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/wifiManager.cc b/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/wifiManager.cc
index 0970173929..ea0b549453 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/wifiManager.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/wifiManager.cc
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ bool compare_by_strength(const Network &a, const Network &b) {
   return a.strength > b.strength;
 }
 
-WifiManager::WifiManager(QWidget* parent) : QWidget(parent) {
+WifiManager::WifiManager(QObject *parent) : QObject(parent) {
   qDBusRegisterMetaType<Connection>();
   qDBusRegisterMetaType<IpConfig>();
   connecting_to_network = "";
@@ -47,13 +47,7 @@ WifiManager::WifiManager(QWidget* parent) : QWidget(parent) {
     bus.connect(NM_DBUS_SERVICE, NM_DBUS_PATH, NM_DBUS_INTERFACE, "DeviceAdded", this, SLOT(deviceAdded(QDBusObjectPath)));
   }
 
-  QTimer* timer = new QTimer(this);
-  QObject::connect(timer, &QTimer::timeout, this, [=]() {
-    if (!adapter.isEmpty() && this->isVisible()) {
-      requestScan();
-    }
-  });
-  timer->start(5000);
+  timer.callOnTimeout(this, &WifiManager::requestScan);
 }
 
 void WifiManager::setup() {
@@ -74,10 +68,18 @@ void WifiManager::setup() {
   requestScan();
 }
 
+void WifiManager::start() {
+  timer.start(5000);
+  refreshNetworks();
+}
+
+void WifiManager::stop() {
+  timer.stop();
+}
+
 void WifiManager::refreshNetworks() {
-  if (adapter.isEmpty()) {
-    return;
-  }
+  if (adapter.isEmpty() || !timer.isActive()) return;
+
   seenNetworks.clear();
   ipv4_address = get_ipv4_address();
 
@@ -107,6 +109,7 @@ void WifiManager::refreshNetworks() {
     Network network = {ssid, strength, ctype, security};
     seenNetworks[ssid] = network;
   }
+  emit refreshSignal();
 }
 
 QString WifiManager::get_ipv4_address() {
@@ -315,21 +318,14 @@ void WifiManager::stateChange(unsigned int new_state, unsigned int previous_stat
     emit wrongPassword(connecting_to_network);
   } else if (new_state == NM_DEVICE_STATE_ACTIVATED) {
     connecting_to_network = "";
-    if (this->isVisible()) {
-      refreshNetworks();
-      emit refreshSignal();
-    }
+    refreshNetworks();
   }
 }
 
 // https://developer.gnome.org/NetworkManager/stable/gdbus-org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.Device.Wireless.html
 void WifiManager::propertyChange(const QString &interface, const QVariantMap &props, const QStringList &invalidated_props) {
   if (interface == NM_DBUS_INTERFACE_DEVICE_WIRELESS && props.contains("LastScan")) {
-    if (this->isVisible() || firstScan) {
-      refreshNetworks();
-      emit refreshSignal();
-      firstScan = false;
-    }
+    refreshNetworks();
   } else if (interface == NM_DBUS_INTERFACE_DEVICE_WIRELESS && props.contains("ActiveAccessPoint")) {
     const QDBusObjectPath &path = props.value("ActiveAccessPoint").value<QDBusObjectPath>();
     activeAp = path.path();
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/wifiManager.h b/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/wifiManager.h
index 04defd32dd..a8643fa0cf 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/wifiManager.h
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/wifiManager.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <QtDBus>
-#include <QWidget>
+#include <QTimer>
 
 #include "selfdrive/ui/qt/offroad/networkmanager.h"
 
@@ -33,12 +33,13 @@ struct Network {
 };
 bool compare_by_strength(const Network &a, const Network &b);
 
-class WifiManager : public QWidget {
+class WifiManager : public QObject {
   Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-  explicit WifiManager(QWidget* parent);
-
+  explicit WifiManager(QObject* parent);
+  void start();
+  void stop();
   void requestScan();
   QMap<QString, Network> seenNetworks;
   QMap<QDBusObjectPath, QString> knownConnections;
@@ -67,13 +68,13 @@ public:
 
 private:
   QString adapter;  // Path to network manager wifi-device
+  QTimer timer;
   QDBusConnection bus = QDBusConnection::systemBus();
   unsigned int raw_adapter_state;  // Connection status https://developer.gnome.org/NetworkManager/1.26/nm-dbus-types.html#NMDeviceState
   QString connecting_to_network;
   QString tethering_ssid;
   const QString defaultTetheringPassword = "swagswagcomma";
 
-  bool firstScan = true;
   QString getAdapter(const uint = NM_DEVICE_TYPE_WIFI);
   uint getAdapterType(const QDBusObjectPath &path);
   bool isWirelessAdapter(const QDBusObjectPath &path);