diff --git a/src/meshberry/cardkb.cpp b/src/meshberry/cardkb.cpp
index 8fc853c..dd57037 100644
--- a/src/meshberry/cardkb.cpp
+++ b/src/meshberry/cardkb.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 #include <Arduino.h>
 
 static TwoWire kbWire(1); // Use other I2C bus
+static bool present = false;
+static unsigned long lastRetry = 0;
 
 void cardkb_init() {
     esp_log_level_set("esp32-hal-i2c-ng", ESP_LOG_NONE);
@@ -13,13 +15,11 @@ void cardkb_init() {
     pinMode(PIN_KB_SCL, INPUT_PULLUP);
     kbWire.begin(PIN_KB_SDA, PIN_KB_SCL);
     kbWire.setClock(CARDKB_I2C_HZ);
+    lastRetry = millis() - 10000; 
 }
 
 char cardkb_read() {
-    static bool          present    = false;
-    static unsigned long lastRetry  = 0;
-    
-    // test if the keyboard is connected, 
+    // test if the keyboard is connected,
     // prevent endless logging of errors
     if (!present) {
         unsigned long now = millis();
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ char cardkb_read() {
         return 0;
     }
     present = true;
-    
+
     char key = kbWire.available() ? (char)kbWire.read() : 0;
-    return key; 
+    return key;
 }