diff --git a/selfdrive/dragonpilot/shutdownd/shutdownd.py b/selfdrive/dragonpilot/shutdownd/shutdownd.py
index b99b1b287..40fd07720 100644
--- a/selfdrive/dragonpilot/shutdownd/shutdownd.py
+++ b/selfdrive/dragonpilot/shutdownd/shutdownd.py
@@ -8,21 +8,25 @@ params = Params()
 def main(gctx=None):
 
   shutdown_count = 0
-  autoShutdownAt = get_shutdown_val()
+  auto_shutdown_at = get_shutdown_val()
+  frame = 0
 
   while 1:
     with open("/sys/class/power_supply/usb/present") as f:
       usb_online = bool(int(f.read()))
 
     if not usb_online:
+      # we update the value every 3 seconds in case of user updates it
+      if frame % 3 == 0:
+        auto_shutdown_at = get_shutdown_val()
       shutdown_count += 1
     else:
       shutdown_count = 0
 
-    if autoShutdownAt is None:
-      autoShutdownAt = get_shutdown_val()
+    if auto_shutdown_at is None:
+      auto_shutdown_at = get_shutdown_val()
     else:
-      if shutdown_count >= autoShutdownAt > 0:
+      if shutdown_count >= auto_shutdown_at > 0:
         os.system('LD_LIBRARY_PATH="" svc power shutdown')
 
     time.sleep(1)