diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index dad5d95..c72eef0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@pokusew/pcsclite",
-  "version": "0.6.0",
+  "version": "0.6.1",
   "description": "Bindings over PC/SC to access Smart Cards",
   "keywords": [
     "nfc",
diff --git a/src/pcsclite.cpp b/src/pcsclite.cpp
index dd66881..4460af3 100644
--- a/src/pcsclite.cpp
+++ b/src/pcsclite.cpp
@@ -69,13 +69,18 @@ PCSCLite::PCSCLite(): m_card_context(0),
 
     LONG result;
     // TODO: consider removing this do-while Windows workaround that should not be needed anymore
+	INT retry = 0;
     do {
+		if (retry > 0) {
+			Sleep(100 * retry);
+		}
+
         // TODO: make dwScope (now hard-coded to SCARD_SCOPE_SYSTEM) customisable
         result = SCardEstablishContext(SCARD_SCOPE_SYSTEM,
                                             NULL,
                                             NULL,
                                             &m_card_context);
-    } while(result == SCARD_E_NO_SERVICE || result == SCARD_E_SERVICE_STOPPED);
+    } while((result == SCARD_E_NO_SERVICE || result == SCARD_E_SERVICE_STOPPED) && retry++ < 3);
     if (result != SCARD_S_SUCCESS) {
         Nan::ThrowError(error_msg("SCardEstablishContext", result).c_str());
     } else {