diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 66fa0ab..79c45a4 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -172,11 +172,14 @@ end
 local INTERVAL = 60
 local HANDLE  = nil
 minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
+	if MatrixChat.token == nil or #minetest.get_connected_players() == 0 then
+		return
+	end
 	if HANDLE == nil then
 		local request = MatrixChat:get_sync_table(INTERVAL * 1000)
 		request.timeout = INTERVAL
 		HANDLE = http.fetch_async(request)
-	elseif HANDLE ~= nil then
+	else
 		local result = http.fetch_async_get(HANDLE)
 		if result.completed then
 			if result.code == 200 then