diff --git a/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/plugin/bluetooth/BluetoothConnectionLimiter.java b/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/plugin/bluetooth/BluetoothConnectionLimiter.java
index 9bf608a63..f8b965059 100644
--- a/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/plugin/bluetooth/BluetoothConnectionLimiter.java
+++ b/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/plugin/bluetooth/BluetoothConnectionLimiter.java
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package org.briarproject.bramble.plugin.bluetooth;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.nullsafety.NotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.bramble.api.plugin.duplex.DuplexTransportConnection;
 
+import static java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit.DAYS;
 import static java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit.MINUTES;
 import static java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit.SECONDS;
 
@@ -22,11 +23,9 @@ interface BluetoothConnectionLimiter {
 	long MIN_ATTEMPT_INTERVAL_MS = MINUTES.toMillis(2);
 
 	/**
-	 * The maximum exponent to use when backing off between attempts to raise
-	 * the connection limit. The maximum interval between attempts is
-	 * MIN_ATTEMPT_INTERVAL_MS * (1L << MAX_ATTEMPT_BACKOFF) =~ 34 hours.
+	 * The maximum interval between attempts to raise the connection limit.
 	 */
-	int MAX_ATTEMPT_BACKOFF = 10;
+	long MAX_ATTEMPT_INTERVAL_MS = DAYS.toMillis(2);
 
 	/**
 	 * Informs the limiter that key agreement has started.
diff --git a/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/plugin/bluetooth/BluetoothConnectionLimiterImpl.java b/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/plugin/bluetooth/BluetoothConnectionLimiterImpl.java
index 047c038e0..3ab39b03c 100644
--- a/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/plugin/bluetooth/BluetoothConnectionLimiterImpl.java
+++ b/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/plugin/bluetooth/BluetoothConnectionLimiterImpl.java
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class BluetoothConnectionLimiterImpl implements BluetoothConnectionLimiter {
 	@GuardedBy("lock")
 	private boolean keyAgreementInProgress = false;
 	@GuardedBy("lock")
-	private int connectionLimit = 1, attemptBackoff = 0;
+	private int connectionLimit = 1;
 	@GuardedBy("lock")
 	private long timeOfLastAttempt = 0,
 			attemptInterval = MIN_ATTEMPT_INTERVAL_MS;
@@ -164,7 +164,6 @@ class BluetoothConnectionLimiterImpl implements BluetoothConnectionLimiter {
 		if (stable > connectionLimit) {
 			LOG.info("Raising connection limit");
 			connectionLimit++;
-			attemptBackoff = 0;
 			attemptInterval = MIN_ATTEMPT_INTERVAL_MS;
 		}
 		if (LOG.isLoggable(INFO)) {
@@ -178,8 +177,7 @@ class BluetoothConnectionLimiterImpl implements BluetoothConnectionLimiter {
 		long now = clock.currentTimeMillis();
 		if (now - timeOfLastAttempt < STABILITY_PERIOD_MS) {
 			LOG.info("Connection failed above limit, increasing interval");
-			attemptBackoff = min(attemptBackoff + 1, MAX_ATTEMPT_BACKOFF);
-			attemptInterval = MIN_ATTEMPT_INTERVAL_MS * (1L << attemptBackoff);
+			attemptInterval = min(attemptInterval * 2, MAX_ATTEMPT_INTERVAL_MS);
 		}
 	}