diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ffcb6a1..540caf1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@ And then to build an `.elf`
 
 run this while `openocd` is running
 
-    while true; do telnet localhost 9090; sleep 1; done
+    while true; do if nc -z localhost 9090; then telnet localhost 9090; else sleep 1; fi; done