diff --git a/src/pcsclite.cpp b/src/pcsclite.cpp
index dd66881..8332f6e 100644
--- a/src/pcsclite.cpp
+++ b/src/pcsclite.cpp
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ PCSCLite::PCSCLite(): m_card_context(0),
 postServiceCheck:
 #endif // _WIN32
 
-    LONG result;
+    LONG result, attempt = 0;
     // TODO: consider removing this do-while Windows workaround that should not be needed anymore
     do {
         // TODO: make dwScope (now hard-coded to SCARD_SCOPE_SYSTEM) customisable
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ postServiceCheck:
                                             NULL,
                                             NULL,
                                             &m_card_context);
-    } while(result == SCARD_E_NO_SERVICE || result == SCARD_E_SERVICE_STOPPED);
+    } while((result == SCARD_E_NO_SERVICE || result == SCARD_E_SERVICE_STOPPED) && ++attempt <= 10);
     if (result != SCARD_S_SUCCESS) {
         Nan::ThrowError(error_msg("SCardEstablishContext", result).c_str());
     } else {