diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 46e26a4..92702eb 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ static void sender_loop() {
   uint32_t next_sample_due = g_last_sample_ms + METER_SAMPLE_INTERVAL_MS;
   uint32_t next_send_due = g_last_send_ms + METER_SEND_INTERVAL_MS;
   uint32_t next_due = next_sample_due < next_send_due ? next_sample_due : next_send_due;
-  if (next_due > now_ms) {
+  if (!g_batch_ack_pending && next_due > now_ms) {
     watchdog_kick();
     light_sleep_ms(next_due - now_ms);
   }