diff --git a/src/main/scala/au/org/ala/biocache/util/LayersStore.scala b/src/main/scala/au/org/ala/biocache/util/LayersStore.scala
index fc0fed185..938772840 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/au/org/ala/biocache/util/LayersStore.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/au/org/ala/biocache/util/LayersStore.scala
@@ -57,8 +57,12 @@ class LayersStore ( layersStoreUrl: String) {
       respBody = r._2
       retry = r._3
 
-      if (respCode != HttpStatus.SC_OK)
+      if (respCode != HttpStatus.SC_OK) {
         logger.warn("Problem getting sampling status: " + r + " retries=" + retries)
+        
+        //count down retries if status is not OK
+        retries -= 1
+      } 
       if (callback != null) {
         if (respCode != HttpStatus.SC_OK) {
           callback.progressMessage("Problem getting status: " + respCode + "/" + HttpStatus.getStatusText(respCode))
@@ -87,7 +91,6 @@ class LayersStore ( layersStoreUrl: String) {
           }
         }
       }
-      retries -= 1
     }
 
     if (retries <= 0 || respBody == null) {