diff --git a/llarp/router/router.cpp b/llarp/router/router.cpp
index 29c4b2baf..2b47c8f6a 100644
--- a/llarp/router/router.cpp
+++ b/llarp/router/router.cpp
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ namespace llarp
 
     _stopping.store(false);
     _running.store(false);
-    _lastTick = llarp::time_now_ms();
+    _lastTick       = llarp::time_now_ms();
+    m_nextExploreAt = Clock_t::now();
   }
 
   Router::~Router()
@@ -698,11 +699,13 @@ namespace llarp
       connected += _linkManager.NumberOfPendingConnections();
     }
 
-    const int interval = isSvcNode ? 30 : 5;
-
-    if((Uptime() / 1000) % interval == 0)
+    const int interval       = isSvcNode ? 5 : 2;
+    const auto timepoint_now = Clock_t::now();
+    if(timepoint_now >= m_NextExploreAt)
+    {
       _rcLookupHandler.ExploreNetwork();
-
+      m_NextExploreAt = timepoint_now + std::chrono::seconds(interval);
+    }
     size_t connectToNum      = _outboundSessionMaker.minConnectedRouters;
     const auto strictConnect = _rcLookupHandler.NumberOfStrictConnectRouters();
     if(strictConnect > 0 && connectToNum > strictConnect)
diff --git a/llarp/router/router.hpp b/llarp/router/router.hpp
index 0e1c68f7b..81554d4de 100644
--- a/llarp/router/router.hpp
+++ b/llarp/router/router.hpp
@@ -274,6 +274,11 @@ namespace llarp
     LinkManager _linkManager;
     RCLookupHandler _rcLookupHandler;
 
+    using Clock_t     = std::chrono::steady_clock;
+    using TimePoint_t = Clock_t::time_point;
+
+    TimePoint_t m_NextExploreAt;
+
     IOutboundMessageHandler &
     outboundMessageHandler() override
     {