diff --git a/phone_notification_client.sh b/phone_notification_client.sh
index 8424518..8ed1102 100755
--- a/phone_notification_client.sh
+++ b/phone_notification_client.sh
@@ -32,14 +32,18 @@ do
   done
   ocounter="$counter"
   echo "peoplecounter" >&"${COPROC[1]}"
-  read counter <&"${COPROC[0]}"
+  read -t 1 counter <&"${COPROC[0]}"
+  if [ $? -ne 0 ]
+  then
+    counter=-1
+  fi
   if [ "$counter" != "$ocounter" ]
   then
     logger $0 peoplecounter=$counter
     echo "neocounter=$counter" | ./redi.sh
   fi 
   echo "spacestatus" >&"${COPROC[1]}"
-  read status <&"${COPROC[0]}"
+  read -t 1 status <&"${COPROC[0]}"
   if ! [ "$status" = "open" ]; then   # do nothing if space is closed
 	continue
   else
diff --git a/setneocolor.py b/setneocolor.py
index 1451942..7e77330 100755
--- a/setneocolor.py
+++ b/setneocolor.py
@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
               for j in range(0,60,5):
                 strip.setPixelColor(clockcalc(j), color)
               # put the current people count as magenta
-              strip.setPixelColor(clockcalc(myredis.get('neocounter')),Color(10,0,10))
+              if myredis.get('neocounter') >= 0:
+                strip.setPixelColor(clockcalc(myredis.get('neocounter')),Color(10,0,10))
               # put the minute hand as red
               strip.setPixelColor(clockcalc(time.strftime('%M',time.localtime())),Color(30,0,0))
               # put the seconds hand as green