diff --git a/src/MyESP.cpp b/src/MyESP.cpp
index 98ae302c7..0d0f3f645 100644
--- a/src/MyESP.cpp
+++ b/src/MyESP.cpp
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ MyESP::MyESP() {
     _mqtt_will_topic           = strdup(MQTT_WILL_TOPIC);
     _mqtt_will_online_payload  = strdup(MQTT_WILL_ONLINE_PAYLOAD);
     _mqtt_will_offline_payload = strdup(MQTT_WILL_OFFLINE_PAYLOAD);
+    _mqtt_publish_fails        = 0; // count of number of failed MQTT topic publishes
 
     // network
     _network_password  = nullptr;
@@ -425,9 +426,19 @@ bool MyESP::mqttPublish(const char * topic, const char * payload, bool retain) {
         if (packet_id) {
             _addMQTTLog(topic, payload, MYESP_MQTTLOGTYPE_PUBLISH); // add to the log
             return true;
-        } else {
-            myDebug_P(PSTR("[MQTT] Error publishing to %s with payload %s [error %d]"), _mqttTopic(topic), payload, packet_id);
         }
+
+        // it failed, try again https://github.com/proddy/EMS-ESP/issues/264
+        delay(100); // this is blocking and probably not a good idea
+        packet_id = mqttClient.publish(_mqttTopic(topic), _mqtt_qos, retain, payload);
+        if (packet_id) {
+            _addMQTTLog(topic, payload, MYESP_MQTTLOGTYPE_PUBLISH); // add to the log
+            return true;                                            // ok this time
+        }
+
+        // it didn't work again, will return false
+        myDebug_P(PSTR("[MQTT] Error publishing to %s with payload %s [error %d]"), _mqttTopic(topic), payload, packet_id);
+        _mqtt_publish_fails++; // increment failure counter
     }
 
     return false; // failed
@@ -1372,6 +1383,7 @@ void MyESP::showSystemStats() {
 
     if (isMQTTConnected()) {
         myDebug_P(PSTR(" [MQTT] is connected (heartbeat %s)"), getHeartbeat() ? "enabled" : "disabled");
+        myDebug_P(PSTR(" [MQTT] # failed topic publishes: %d"), _mqtt_publish_fails);
     } else {
         myDebug_P(PSTR(" [MQTT] is disconnected"));
     }
diff --git a/src/MyESP.h b/src/MyESP.h
index d6df5ccc1..3f78b7b5b 100644
--- a/src/MyESP.h
+++ b/src/MyESP.h
@@ -335,12 +335,12 @@ class MyESP {
 
   private:
     // mqtt
-    void   _mqttOnMessage(char * topic, char * payload, size_t len);
-    void   _mqttConnect();
-    void   _mqtt_setup();
-    void   _mqttOnConnect();
-    void   _sendStart();
-    char * _mqttTopic(const char * topic);
+    void     _mqttOnMessage(char * topic, char * payload, size_t len);
+    void     _mqttConnect();
+    void     _mqtt_setup();
+    void     _mqttOnConnect();
+    void     _sendStart();
+    char *   _mqttTopic(const char * topic);
 
     // mqtt log
     _MQTT_Log_t MQTT_log[MYESP_MQTTLOG_MAX]; // log for publish and subscribe messages
@@ -366,6 +366,7 @@ class MyESP {
     uint32_t        _mqtt_last_connection;
     bool            _mqtt_connecting;
     bool            _mqtt_heartbeat;
+    uint16_t        _mqtt_publish_fails;
 
     // wifi
     void            _wifiCallback(justwifi_messages_t code, char * parameter);