diff --git a/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py b/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py
index 4d4e1706b9..bd80095675 100755
--- a/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py
+++ b/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py
@@ -433,6 +433,9 @@ def main():
       handle_long_poll(ws)
     except (KeyboardInterrupt, SystemExit):
       break
+    except (ConnectionError, TimeoutError):
+      conn_retries += 1
+      params.delete("LastAthenaPingTime")
     except Exception:
       crash.capture_exception()
       cloudlog.exception("athenad.main.exception")