diff --git a/R/hit_api.R b/R/hit_api.R
index 7339712..e887940 100644
--- a/R/hit_api.R
+++ b/R/hit_api.R
@@ -167,7 +167,11 @@ hit_national_map_api <- function(bbox,
     if (!is.null(body$error) &&
       counter < 15 &&
       (is.null(body$href) && service %in% method$href)) {
-      Sys.sleep(1)
+      backoff <- stats::runif(n = 1, min = 0, max = floor(c(
+        2^counter - 1,
+        30
+      )))
+      Sys.sleep(backoff)
       get_href(counter = counter + 1)
     } else {
       return(body)