diff --git a/src/viam/robot/client.py b/src/viam/robot/client.py
index 4dc7ce9e6..29d66fe1d 100644
--- a/src/viam/robot/client.py
+++ b/src/viam/robot/client.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import asyncio
+import sys
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from datetime import datetime
 from threading import RLock
@@ -431,6 +432,9 @@ async def _check_connection(self, check_every: int, reconnect_every: int):
                     self._sessions_client.reset()
                     self._close_channel()
                     await asyncio.sleep(reconnect_every)
+            if not self._connected:
+                # We failed to reconnect, sys.exit() so that this thread doesn't stick around forever.
+                sys.exit()
 
     def get_component(self, name: ResourceName) -> ComponentBase:
         """Get a component using its ResourceName.