diff --git a/adafruit_pyportal/wifi.py b/adafruit_pyportal/wifi.py
index 2b1df14..bae5fbd 100755
--- a/adafruit_pyportal/wifi.py
+++ b/adafruit_pyportal/wifi.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def __init__(self, *, status_neopixel=None, esp=None, external_spi=None):
             )
 
         requests.set_socket(socket, self.esp)
-        if esp.is_connected:
+        if self.esp.is_connected:
             self.requests = requests
         self._manager = None