diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 04ac75f..a4cf875 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "nostr-tools",
-  "version": "0.8.0",
+  "version": "0.8.1",
   "description": "Tools for making a Nostr client.",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
diff --git a/relay.js b/relay.js
index cc35cc2..d7064db 100644
--- a/relay.js
+++ b/relay.js
@@ -46,7 +46,10 @@ export function relayConnect(url, onNotice) {
     ws.onclose = () => {
       resetOpenState()
       attemptNumber++
-      nextAttemptSeconds += attemptNumber
+      nextAttemptSeconds += attemptNumber ** 3
+      if (nextAttemptSeconds > 14400) {
+        nextAttemptSeconds = 14400 // 4 hours
+      }
       console.log(
         `relay ${url} connection closed. reconnecting in ${nextAttemptSeconds} seconds.`
       )