diff --git a/conman/connection_manager.py b/conman/connection_manager.py
index 4c3a888..b3e11e6 100755
--- a/conman/connection_manager.py
+++ b/conman/connection_manager.py
@@ -160,7 +160,10 @@
       self.logger.debug('Wifi client already started on %s GHz', self.band)
       return
 
-    if self._actually_start_client():
+    # /bin/wifi will return 0 if the config hasn't changed, even if it is not
+    # /currently associated, so we need to check self.client_up as well as
+    # /checking that /bin/wifi succeeded.
+    if self._actually_start_client() and self.client_up:
       self.wifi.status.connected_to_wlan = True
       self.logger.info('Started wifi client on %s GHz', self.band)
 
diff --git a/conman/interface.py b/conman/interface.py
index 245ca27..fbef47e 100755
--- a/conman/interface.py
+++ b/conman/interface.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
     if 'default' not in self.current_routes():
       return False
 
-    cmd = [self.CONNECTION_CHECK, '-I', self.name]
+    cmd = ['timeout', '5', self.CONNECTION_CHECK, '-I', self.name]
     if check_acs:
       cmd.append('-a')