diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/api.cc b/selfdrive/ui/qt/api.cc
index 72095fef7e..55fb20f4bc 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/api.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/api.cc
@@ -67,24 +67,24 @@ QString create_jwt(const QJsonObject &payloads, int expiry) {
 
 }  // namespace CommaApi
 
-HttpRequest::HttpRequest(QObject *parent, const QString &requestURL, bool create_jwt_,
-                         int timeout) : create_jwt(create_jwt_), QObject(parent) {
+HttpRequest::HttpRequest(QObject *parent, bool create_jwt, int timeout) : create_jwt(create_jwt), QObject(parent) {
   networkAccessManager = new QNetworkAccessManager(this);
-  reply = NULL;
 
   networkTimer = new QTimer(this);
   networkTimer->setSingleShot(true);
   networkTimer->setInterval(timeout);
   connect(networkTimer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &HttpRequest::requestTimeout);
-
-  sendRequest(requestURL);
 }
 
 bool HttpRequest::active() {
-  return reply != NULL;
+  return reply != nullptr;
 }
 
 void HttpRequest::sendRequest(const QString &requestURL) {
+  if (active()) {
+    qDebug() << "HttpRequest is active";
+    return;
+  }
   QString token;
   if(create_jwt) {
     token = CommaApi::create_jwt();
@@ -129,5 +129,5 @@ void HttpRequest::requestFinished() {
   }
   emit requestDone(success);
   reply->deleteLater();
-  reply = NULL;
+  reply = nullptr;
 }
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/api.h b/selfdrive/ui/qt/api.h
index 584697a893..ac190c4226 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/api.h
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/api.h
@@ -20,16 +20,16 @@ class HttpRequest : public QObject {
   Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-  explicit HttpRequest(QObject* parent, const QString &requestURL, bool create_jwt_ = true, int timeout = 20000);
+  explicit HttpRequest(QObject* parent, bool create_jwt = true, int timeout = 20000);
   void sendRequest(const QString &requestURL);
   bool active();
 
 protected:
-  QNetworkReply *reply;
+  QNetworkReply *reply = nullptr;
 
 private:
-  QNetworkAccessManager *networkAccessManager;
-  QTimer *networkTimer;
+  QNetworkAccessManager *networkAccessManager = nullptr;
+  QTimer *networkTimer = nullptr;
   bool create_jwt;
 
 private slots:
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/request_repeater.cc b/selfdrive/ui/qt/request_repeater.cc
index 959d7eff00..c11698d6f1 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/request_repeater.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/request_repeater.cc
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 #include "selfdrive/ui/qt/request_repeater.h"
 
 RequestRepeater::RequestRepeater(QObject *parent, const QString &requestURL, const QString &cacheKey,
-                                 int period, bool while_onroad) : HttpRequest(parent, requestURL) {
+                                 int period, bool while_onroad) : HttpRequest(parent) {
   timer = new QTimer(this);
   timer->setTimerType(Qt::VeryCoarseTimer);
   QObject::connect(timer, &QTimer::timeout, [=]() {
-    if ((!QUIState::ui_state.scene.started || while_onroad) && QUIState::ui_state.awake && reply == NULL) {
+    if ((!QUIState::ui_state.scene.started || while_onroad) && QUIState::ui_state.awake && !active()) {
       sendRequest(requestURL);
     }
   });
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/setup/setup.cc b/selfdrive/ui/qt/setup/setup.cc
index 3bd436ae87..8688240888 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/setup/setup.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/setup/setup.cc
@@ -117,12 +117,13 @@ QWidget * Setup::network_setup() {
   blayout->addWidget(cont);
 
   // setup timer for testing internet connection
-  HttpRequest *request = new HttpRequest(this, DASHCAM_URL, false, 2500);
+  HttpRequest *request = new HttpRequest(this, false, 2500);
   QObject::connect(request, &HttpRequest::requestDone, [=](bool success) {
     cont->setEnabled(success);
     cont->setText(success ? "Continue" : "Waiting for internet");
     repaint();
   });
+  request->sendRequest(DASHCAM_URL);
   QTimer *timer = new QTimer(this);
   QObject::connect(timer, &QTimer::timeout, [=]() {
     if (!request->active() && cont->isVisible()) {
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/ssh_keys.cc b/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/ssh_keys.cc
index 1790233260..c6af2f5cd1 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/ssh_keys.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/ssh_keys.cc
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ void SshControl::refresh() {
 }
 
 void SshControl::getUserKeys(const QString &username) {
-  HttpRequest *request = new HttpRequest(this, "https://github.com/" + username + ".keys", false);
+  HttpRequest *request = new HttpRequest(this, false);
   QObject::connect(request, &HttpRequest::receivedResponse, [=](const QString &resp) {
     if (!resp.isEmpty()) {
       params.put("GithubUsername", username.toStdString());
@@ -61,4 +61,6 @@ void SshControl::getUserKeys(const QString &username) {
     refresh();
     request->deleteLater();
   });
+
+  request->sendRequest("https://github.com/" + username + ".keys");
 }
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/replay/replay.cc b/selfdrive/ui/replay/replay.cc
index 23f168ba94..638ff7106f 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/replay/replay.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/replay/replay.cc
@@ -46,8 +46,9 @@ Replay::Replay(QString route, SubMaster *sm_, QObject *parent) : sm(sm_), QObjec
   }
 
   const QString url = "https://api.commadotai.com/v1/route/" + route + "/files";
-  http = new HttpRequest(this, url, !Hardware::PC());
+  http = new HttpRequest(this, !Hardware::PC());
   QObject::connect(http, &HttpRequest::receivedResponse, this, &Replay::parseResponse);
+  http->sendRequest(url);
 }
 
 void Replay::parseResponse(const QString &response) {