diff --git a/adafruit_portalbase/__init__.py b/adafruit_portalbase/__init__.py
index 38b9352..953163d 100644
--- a/adafruit_portalbase/__init__.py
+++ b/adafruit_portalbase/__init__.py
@@ -480,12 +480,12 @@ class PortalBase:
                 self._fetch_set_text(string, index=i)
                 value_index += 1
 
-    def get_local_time(self, location=None):
+    def get_local_time(self, location=None, max_attempts=10):
         """Accessor function for get_local_time()"""
         if self.network is None:
             raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to use get_local_time()")
 
-        return self.network.get_local_time(location=location)
+        return self.network.get_local_time(location=location, max_attempts=max_attempts)
 
     def push_to_io(self, feed_key, data, metadata=None, precision=None):
         """Push data to an adafruit.io feed
diff --git a/adafruit_portalbase/network.py b/adafruit_portalbase/network.py
index 288aa3d..33937e7 100755
--- a/adafruit_portalbase/network.py
+++ b/adafruit_portalbase/network.py
@@ -201,14 +201,16 @@ class NetworkBase:
         """
         return url.replace(" ", "+").replace("%", "%25").replace(":", "%3A")
 
-    def get_strftime(self, time_format, location=None):
+    def get_strftime(self, time_format, location=None, max_attempts=10):
         """
         Fetch a custom strftime relative to your location.
 
         :param str location: Your city and country, e.g. ``"America/New_York"``.
+        :param max_attempts: The maximum number of of attempts to connect to WiFi before
+                             failing or use None to disable. Defaults to 10.
 
         """
-        self.connect()
+        self.connect(max_attempts=max_attempts)
         api_url = None
         reply = None
         try:
@@ -256,14 +258,18 @@ class NetworkBase:
 
         return reply
 
-    def get_local_time(self, location=None):
+    def get_local_time(self, location=None, max_attempts=10):
         """
         Fetch and "set" the local time of this microcontroller to the local time at the location, using an internet time API.
 
         :param str location: Your city and country, e.g. ``"America/New_York"``.
+        :param max_attempts: The maximum number of of attempts to connect to WiFi before
+                             failing or use None to disable. Defaults to 10.
 
         """
-        reply = self.get_strftime(TIME_SERVICE_FORMAT, location=location)
+        reply = self.get_strftime(
+            TIME_SERVICE_FORMAT, location=location, max_attempts=max_attempts
+        )
         if reply:
             times = reply.split(" ")
             the_date = times[0]