diff --git a/umqtt.robust/umqtt/robust.py b/umqtt.robust/umqtt/robust.py
index 7ee40e020..86d249252 100644
--- a/umqtt.robust/umqtt/robust.py
+++ b/umqtt.robust/umqtt/robust.py
@@ -3,12 +3,8 @@
 
 class MQTTClient(simple.MQTTClient):
 
-    DELAY = 2
     DEBUG = False
 
-    def delay(self, i):
-        utime.sleep(self.DELAY)
-
     def log(self, in_reconnect, e):
         if self.DEBUG:
             if in_reconnect:
@@ -17,14 +13,14 @@ def log(self, in_reconnect, e):
                 print("mqtt: %r" % e)
 
     def reconnect(self):
-        i = 0
+        d = 0
         while 1:
             try:
                 return super().connect(False)
             except OSError as e:
                 self.log(True, e)
-                i += 1
-                self.delay(i)
+                d += 1
+                utime.sleep(d)
 
     def publish(self, topic, msg, retain=False, qos=0):
         while 1: