diff --git a/include/modules/network.hpp b/include/modules/network.hpp
index 81fde0a5..192fc527 100644
--- a/include/modules/network.hpp
+++ b/include/modules/network.hpp
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ class Network : public ALabel {
     ~Network();
     auto update() -> void;
   private:
+    static const uint8_t MAX_RETRY = 10;
+
     static int handleEvents(struct nl_msg*, void*);
     static int handleScan(struct nl_msg*, void*);
 
diff --git a/src/modules/network.cpp b/src/modules/network.cpp
index b234930c..0b0ea904 100644
--- a/src/modules/network.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/network.cpp
@@ -383,9 +383,14 @@ int waybar::modules::Network::handleEvents(struct nl_msg *msg, void *data) {
     }
   }
   if (net->ifid_ <= 0 && !net->config_["interface"].isString()) {
-    // Need to wait before get external interface
-    net->thread_.sleep_for(std::chrono::seconds(1));
-    net->ifid_ = net->getExternalInterface();
+    for (uint8_t i = 0; i < MAX_RETRY; i += 1) {
+      net->ifid_ = net->getExternalInterface();
+      if (net->ifid_ > 0) {
+        break;
+      }
+      // Need to wait before get external interface
+      net->thread_.sleep_for(std::chrono::seconds(1));
+    }
     if (net->ifid_ > 0) {
       char ifname[IF_NAMESIZE];
       if_indextoname(net->ifid_, ifname);