diff --git a/internal_filesystem/lib/mpos/wifi.py b/internal_filesystem/lib/mpos/wifi.py
index d3b1a332..63efbaf0 100644
--- a/internal_filesystem/lib/mpos/wifi.py
+++ b/internal_filesystem/lib/mpos/wifi.py
@@ -20,17 +20,21 @@ except Exception as e:
 class WifiService():
 
     wifi_busy = False # crude lock on wifi
+    access_points = {}
 
     @staticmethod
     def connect():
+        wlan=network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
+        wlan.active(False) # restart WiFi hardware in case it's in a bad state
+        wlan.active(True)
         networks = wlan.scan()
         for n in networks:
             ssid = n[0].decode()
             print(f"auto_connect: checking ssid '{ssid}'")
-            if ssid in access_points:
-                password = access_points.get(ssid).get("password")
+            if ssid in WifiService.access_points:
+                password = WifiService.access_points.get(ssid).get("password")
                 print(f"auto_connect: attempting to connect to saved network {ssid} with password {password}")
-                if attempt_connecting(ssid,password):
+                if WifiService.attempt_connecting(ssid,password):
                     print(f"auto_connect: Connected to {ssid}")
                     return True
                 else:
@@ -44,6 +48,7 @@ class WifiService():
     def attempt_connecting(ssid,password):
         print(f"auto_connect.py attempt_connecting: Attempting to connect to SSID: {ssid}")
         try:
+            wlan=network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
             wlan.connect(ssid,password)
             for i in range(10):
                 if wlan.isconnected():
@@ -66,8 +71,8 @@ class WifiService():
         print("auto_connect thread running")
 
         # load config:
-        access_points = mpos.config.SharedPreferences("com.micropythonos.system.wifiservice").get_dict("access_points")
-        if not len(access_points):
+        WifiService.access_points = mpos.config.SharedPreferences("com.micropythonos.system.wifiservice").get_dict("access_points")
+        if not len(WifiService.access_points):
             print("WifiService.py: not access points configured, exiting...")
             return
 
@@ -78,13 +83,11 @@ class WifiService():
                 time.sleep(10)
                 print("auto_connect: wifi connect simulation done")
             else:
-                wlan=network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
-                wlan.active(False) # restart WiFi hardware in case it's in a bad state
-                wlan.active(True)
-                if connect():
+                if WifiService.connect():
                     print("WifiService.py managed to connect.")
                 else:
                     print("WifiService.py did not manage to connect.")
+                    wlan=network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
                     wlan.active(False) # disable to conserve power
             WifiService.wifi_busy = False