diff --git a/common/docker/client.go b/common/docker/client.go
index 8dcec712..e341b4f0 100644
--- a/common/docker/client.go
+++ b/common/docker/client.go
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ func (c *Client) AddObserver(ob ContainerObserver) error {
 			if err := c.AddEventListener(events); err != nil {
 				Log.Errorf("[docker] Unable to add listener to Docker API: %s - retrying in %ds", err, retryInterval/time.Second)
 			} else {
+				start := time.Now()
 				for event := range events {
 					switch event.Status {
 					case "start":
@@ -95,6 +96,9 @@ func (c *Client) AddObserver(ob ContainerObserver) error {
 						ob.ContainerDied(id)
 					}
 				}
+				if time.Since(start) > retryInterval {
+					retryInterval = InitialInterval
+				}
 				Log.Errorf("[docker] Event listener channel closed - retrying subscription in %ds", retryInterval/time.Second)
 			}
 			time.Sleep(retryInterval)