diff --git a/packages/portalnetwork/src/networks/network.ts b/packages/portalnetwork/src/networks/network.ts
index 4dc010acf..e40675140 100644
--- a/packages/portalnetwork/src/networks/network.ts
+++ b/packages/portalnetwork/src/networks/network.ts
@@ -823,11 +823,13 @@ export abstract class BaseNetwork extends EventEmitter {
       // Disregard attempts to add oneself as a bootnode
       return
     }
-    await this.sendPing(enr)
-    for (let x = 239; x < 256; x++) {
-      // Ask for nodes in all log2distances 239 - 256
-      if (this.routingTable.valuesOfDistance(x).length === 0) {
-        await this.sendFindNodes(enr, [x])
+    const pong = await this.sendPing(enr)
+    if (pong !== undefined) {
+      for (let x = 239; x < 256; x++) {
+        // Ask for nodes in all log2distances 239 - 256
+        if (this.routingTable.valuesOfDistance(x).length < 16 ) {
+          await this.sendFindNodes(enr, [x])
+        }
       }
     }
   }