diff --git a/src/server/tunnels.ts b/src/server/tunnels.ts
index 4c1cebc..5419e57 100644
--- a/src/server/tunnels.ts
+++ b/src/server/tunnels.ts
@@ -146,18 +146,19 @@ export function renameTunnelConfig(oldName: string, newName: string) {
   saveConfig(config)
 }
 
-function cancelReconnect(appName: string) {
+function cancelReconnect(appName: string, resetAttempts = true) {
   const timer = _reconnectTimers.get(appName)
   if (timer) {
     clearTimeout(timer)
     _reconnectTimers.delete(appName)
   }
-  _reconnectAttempts.delete(appName)
+  if (resetAttempts) _reconnectAttempts.delete(appName)
 }
 
-function openTunnel(appName: string, port: number, subdomain?: string) {
+function openTunnel(appName: string, port: number, subdomain?: string, isReconnect = false) {
   // Cancel any pending reconnect timer to prevent duplicate loops
-  cancelReconnect(appName)
+  // but preserve attempts counter during reconnection so backoff works
+  cancelReconnect(appName, !isReconnect)
 
   // Close existing tunnel if any
   const existing = _tunnels.get(appName)
@@ -232,7 +233,7 @@ function openTunnel(appName: string, port: number, subdomain?: string) {
         const config = loadConfig()
         if (!config[appName]) return
         hostLog(`Tunnel reconnecting: ${appName}`)
-        openTunnel(appName, port, config[appName]?.subdomain)
+        openTunnel(appName, port, config[appName]?.subdomain, true)
       }, delay)
 
       _reconnectTimers.set(appName, timer)