diff --git a/afsk/ax5043.c b/afsk/ax5043.c
index a1902d58..b28223a4 100644
--- a/afsk/ax5043.c
+++ b/afsk/ax5043.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <time.h>
 #include "ax25.h"
 #include "ax5043.h"
 #include "status.h"
@@ -621,14 +622,19 @@ int ax5043_autoranging(ax5043_conf_t *conf) {
     usleep(10);
     //val = 0;
     /* Wait until the autoranging is complete */
-    while ((val & BIT(4)) != 0) {  // changed to !=, since https://www.onsemi.com/pub/Collateral/AND9347-D.PDF says BIT(4) RNG START clears when autoranging done
+    int timeout = 0;
+    clock_t start = clock();
+    while (((val & BIT(4)) != 0) && !timeout ) {  // changed to !=, since https://www.onsemi.com/pub/Collateral/AND9347-D.PDF says BIT(4) RNG START clears when autoranging done
         ret = ax5043_spi_read_8(conf, &val, pllranging_reg);
         if (ret) {
             return ret;
         }
+        if ((clock() - start) > 500000) {
+             timeout = 1;
+        }
     }
 
-    if (val & BIT(5)) {
+    if ((val & BIT(5))  || timeout) {
         return -PQWS_AX5043_AUTORANGING_ERROR;
     }