diff --git a/adafruit_ntp.py b/adafruit_ntp.py
index 05e056d..14b2d77 100644
--- a/adafruit_ntp.py
+++ b/adafruit_ntp.py
@@ -49,19 +49,24 @@ class NTP:
     """Network Time Protocol (NTP) helper module for CircuitPython.
     This module does not handle daylight savings or local time.
 
-    :param adafruit_esp32spi esp: ESP32SPI Module
+    :param adafruit_esp32spi esp: ESP32SPI object.
     """
     def __init__(self, esp):
         # Verify ESP32SPI module
         if "ESP_SPIcontrol" in str(type(esp)):
             self._esp = esp
         else:
-            raise TypeError("Provided esp is not an ESP_SPIcontrol object")
+            raise TypeError("Provided object is not an ESP_SPIcontrol object.")
+        self.valid_time = False
 
     def set_time(self):
         """Fetches and sets the microcontroller's current time
         in seconds since since Jan 1, 1970.
         """
-        now = self._esp.get_time()
-        now = time.localtime(now[0])
-        rtc.RTC().datetime = now
+        try:
+            now = self._esp.get_time()
+            now = time.localtime(now[0])
+            rtc.RTC().datetime = now
+            self.valid_time = True
+        except ValueError:
+            return
diff --git a/examples/ntp_simpletest.py b/examples/ntp_simpletest.py
index 869e85d..3d7dad9 100644
--- a/examples/ntp_simpletest.py
+++ b/examples/ntp_simpletest.py
@@ -30,7 +30,11 @@
 ntp = NTP(esp)
 
 # Fetch and set the microcontroller's current UTC time
-ntp.set_time()
+# keep retrying until a valid time is returned
+while not ntp.valid_time:
+    ntp.set_time()
+    print("Failed to obtain time, retrying in 5 seconds...")
+    time.sleep(5)
 
 # Get the current time in seconds since Jan 1, 1970
 current_time = time.time()