diff --git a/src/modules/SX128x/SX128x.cpp b/src/modules/SX128x/SX128x.cpp
index ab3b40df..d03175f6 100644
--- a/src/modules/SX128x/SX128x.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/SX128x/SX128x.cpp
@@ -460,7 +460,15 @@ int16_t SX128x::standby(uint8_t mode) {
   this->mod->setRfSwitchState(Module::MODE_IDLE);
 
   uint8_t data[] = { mode };
-  return(this->mod->SPIwriteStream(RADIOLIB_SX128X_CMD_SET_STANDBY, data, 1));
+  int16_t state = this->mod->SPIwriteStream(RADIOLIB_SX128X_CMD_SET_STANDBY, data, 1);
+  if(state == RADIOLIB_ERR_NONE) {
+    return(state);
+  } else if(state == RADIOLIB_ERR_SPI_CMD_TIMEOUT) {
+    // the device might be in sleep mode, pull NSS low to wake up and try again
+    this->mod->hal->digitalWrite(this->mod->getCs(), this->mod->hal->GpioLevelLow);
+    return(this->mod->SPIwriteStream(RADIOLIB_SX128X_CMD_SET_STANDBY, data, 1));
+  }
+  return(state);
 }
 
 void SX128x::setDio1Action(void (*func)(void)) {
diff --git a/src/modules/SX128x/SX128x.h b/src/modules/SX128x/SX128x.h
index 804c4fa8..97dea036 100644
--- a/src/modules/SX128x/SX128x.h
+++ b/src/modules/SX128x/SX128x.h
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ class SX128x: public PhysicalLayer {
     int16_t scanChannel();
 
     /*!
-      \brief Sets the module to sleep mode.
+      \brief Sets the module to sleep mode. To wake the device up, call standby().
       \param retainConfig Set to true to retain configuration and data buffer or to false
       to discard current configuration and data buffer. Defaults to true.
       \returns \ref status_codes