diff --git a/src/neopixel.c b/src/neopixel.c
index 2fc02dd7..8954d25d 100644
--- a/src/neopixel.c
+++ b/src/neopixel.c
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ send_data(struct neopixel_s *n, uint32_t data)
     return 0;
 fail:
     // A hardware irq messed up the transmission - report a failure
-    n->last_req_time = cur;
+    gpio_out_write(pin, 0);
+    n->last_req_time = timer_read_time();
     return -1;
 }