diff --git a/src/desktop/mod.rs b/src/desktop/mod.rs
index 1dd8db7..15343ef 100644
--- a/src/desktop/mod.rs
+++ b/src/desktop/mod.rs
@@ -80,12 +80,11 @@ fn paused(sc: &mut StreamedContent, ui: &mut Ui, height: f32, tsize: f32) {
 
 fn streaming(sc: &mut StreamedContent, ui: &mut Ui, height: f32, tsize: f32, sleep: Duration) {
     let dur = Instant::now() - sc.last_packet_time;
-    let img = if dur < sleep {
-        if let Some(bytes) = sc.last_packet.clone() {
-            RetainedImage::from_image_bytes("last packet", &mk_qr_bytes(&bytes, height)).unwrap()
-        } else {
-            return;
-        }
+    // don't grab a new packet unless enough time has passed or we've never seen a
+    // packet before
+    let img = if dur < sleep && sc.last_packet.is_some() {
+        let bytes = sc.last_packet.clone().unwrap();
+        RetainedImage::from_image_bytes("last packet", &mk_qr_bytes(&bytes, height)).unwrap()
     } else {
         let bytes = sc.rx.recv().unwrap();
         sc.last_packet = Some(bytes.clone());