diff --git a/llarp/link/utp.cpp b/llarp/link/utp.cpp
index 60f4bf8af..dbbea5eeb 100644
--- a/llarp/link/utp.cpp
+++ b/llarp/link/utp.cpp
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ namespace llarp
         ssize_t s = utp_writev(sock, vecs.data(), vecs.size());
         if(s < 0)
           return;
+        if(s > 0)
+          lastSend = parent->Now();
+
         METRICS_DYNAMIC_INT_UPDATE(
             "utp.session.tx", RouterID(remoteRC.pubkey).ToString().c_str(), s);
         m_TXRate += s;
@@ -241,7 +244,7 @@ namespace llarp
         return false;
       if(sendq.size() >= MaxSendQueueSize)
       {
-        return now - lastActive > 5000;
+        return now - lastSend > 5000;
       }
       // let utp manage this
       return state == eClose;
diff --git a/llarp/link/utp_internal.hpp b/llarp/link/utp_internal.hpp
index 8671dac59..2461b2f5f 100644
--- a/llarp/link/utp_internal.hpp
+++ b/llarp/link/utp_internal.hpp
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ namespace llarp
       SharedSecret txKey;
       /// timestamp last active
       llarp_time_t lastActive;
+      /// timestamp last send success
+      llarp_time_t lastSend;
       /// session timeout (60s)
       const static llarp_time_t sessionTimeout = DefaultLinkSessionLifetime;