diff --git a/broker/src/lss.rs b/broker/src/lss.rs
index 8f34a15..e487054 100644
--- a/broker/src/lss.rs
+++ b/broker/src/lss.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use rocket::tokio::{
     self,
     sync::{mpsc},
 };
+use std::time::Duration;
 use crate::conn::{ChannelRequest, LssReq};
 use lss_connector::{LssBroker, Response};
 use sphinx_signer::sphinx_glyph::topics;
@@ -58,6 +59,8 @@ pub fn lss_tasks(lss_conn: LssBroker, mut lss_rx: mpsc::Receiver<LssReq>, mut re
 }
 
 async fn reconnect_dance(cid: &str, lss_conn: &LssBroker, mqtt_tx: &mpsc::Sender<ChannelRequest>) -> Result<()> {
+    // sleep 3 seconds to make sure ESP32 subscription is active
+    tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_secs(3)).await;
     let init_bytes = lss_conn.make_init_msg().await?;
     let reply = ChannelRequest::send_for(cid, topics::LSS_MSG, init_bytes, mqtt_tx).await?;
     let ir = Response::from_slice(&reply)?.as_init()?;
diff --git a/broker/src/main.rs b/broker/src/main.rs
index 57b94b3..5248b78 100644
--- a/broker/src/main.rs
+++ b/broker/src/main.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ use rocket::tokio::{
     sync::{broadcast, mpsc},
 };
 use rumqttd::{oneshot as std_oneshot, AuthMsg};
-use std::env;
+use std::{env, time::Duration};
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use url::Url;
 use vls_frontend::{frontend::SourceFactory, Frontend};
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ async fn run_main(parent_fd: i32) -> rocket::Rocket<rocket::Build> {
     // waits until first connection
     let conns = broker_setup(settings, mqtt_rx, reconn_tx.clone(), error_tx.clone()).await;
 
+    tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
+
     let (lss_tx, lss_rx) = mpsc::channel::<LssReq>(10000);
     let _lss_broker = if let Ok(lss_uri) = env::var("VLS_LSS") {
         // waits until LSS confirmation from signer
@@ -89,7 +91,7 @@ async fn run_main(parent_fd: i32) -> rocket::Rocket<rocket::Build> {
                 Err(e) => {
                     let _ = error_tx.send(e.to_string().as_bytes().to_vec());
                     log::error!("failed LSS setup, trying again...");
-                    tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(3)).await;
+                    tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_secs(3)).await;
                 }
             }
         };
diff --git a/sphinx-key/src/core/events.rs b/sphinx-key/src/core/events.rs
index 578c2dd..f1ffd7a 100644
--- a/sphinx-key/src/core/events.rs
+++ b/sphinx-key/src/core/events.rs
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ pub enum Status {
 
 pub const ROOT_STORE: &str = "/sdcard/store";
 
+pub const SUB_TOPICS: &[&str] = &[topics::VLS, topics::LSS_MSG, topics::CONTROL];
+
 fn mqtt_sub(
     mqtt: &mut EspMqttClient<ConnState<MessageImpl, EspError>>,
     client_id: &str,
@@ -93,8 +95,7 @@ pub fn make_event_loop(
         // wait for a Connection first.
         match event {
             Event::Connected => {
-                let ts = &[topics::VLS, topics::LSS_MSG, topics::CONTROL];
-                mqtt_sub(&mut mqtt, client_id, ts);
+                mqtt_sub(&mut mqtt, client_id, SUB_TOPICS);
                 break;
             }
             _ => (),
@@ -127,8 +128,7 @@ pub fn make_event_loop(
     while let Ok(event) = rx.recv() {
         match event {
             Event::Connected => {
-                let ts = &[topics::VLS, topics::LSS_MSG, topics::CONTROL];
-                mqtt_sub(&mut mqtt, client_id, ts);
+                mqtt_sub(&mut mqtt, client_id, SUB_TOPICS);
                 led_tx.send(Status::Connected).unwrap();
             }
             Event::Disconnected => {
@@ -274,8 +274,7 @@ pub fn make_event_loop(
         match event {
             Event::Connected => {
                 led_tx.send(Status::ConnectedToMqtt).unwrap();
-                let ts = &[topics::VLS];
-                mqtt_sub(&mut mqtt, client_id, ts);
+                mqtt_sub(&mut mqtt, client_id, &[topics::VLS]);
             }
             Event::VlsMessage(msg_bytes) => {
                 led_tx.send(Status::Signing).unwrap();