diff --git a/src/target/target.c b/src/target/target.c
index 5e2fe8cda..5867149a7 100644
--- a/src/target/target.c
+++ b/src/target/target.c
@@ -3050,10 +3050,8 @@ static int handle_target(void *priv)
 		 * allow some slack in the time comparison. Otherwise, if we
 		 * schedule for now+polling_interval, the next poll won't
 		 * actually happen until a polling_interval later. */
-		if (!target->tap->enabled ||
-		    power_dropout ||
-		    srst_asserted ||
-		    timeval_ms() + polling_interval / 2 < target->backoff.next_attempt)
+		const bool poll_needed = timeval_ms() + polling_interval / 2 >= target->backoff.next_attempt;
+		if (!target->tap->enabled || power_dropout || srst_asserted || !poll_needed)
 			continue;
 
 		/* polling may fail silently until the target has been examined */