diff --git a/selfdrive/dragonpilot/shutdownd/shutdownd.py b/selfdrive/dragonpilot/shutdownd/shutdownd.py
index fe1d9e815..cc0b1bf45 100644
--- a/selfdrive/dragonpilot/shutdownd/shutdownd.py
+++ b/selfdrive/dragonpilot/shutdownd/shutdownd.py
@@ -4,25 +4,32 @@ import os
 import time
 from common.params import Params
 params = Params()
+import cereal
+import cereal.messaging as messaging
+
 
 def main(gctx=None):
 
   shutdown_count = 0
   auto_shutdown_at = get_shutdown_val()
   frame = 0
-  last_shutdown_val = get_shutdown_val()
+  last_shutdown_val = auto_shutdown_at
+  thermal_sock = messaging.sub_sock('thermal')
+  started = False
 
   while 1:
-    with open("/sys/class/power_supply/usb/present") as f:
-      usb_online = bool(int(f.read()))
+    if frame % 5 == 0:
+      msg = messaging.recv_sock(thermal_sock, wait=True)
+      started = msg.thermal.started
+      with open("/sys/class/power_supply/usb/present") as f:
+        usb_online = bool(int(f.read()))
+      auto_shutdown_at = get_shutdown_val()
 
-    if not usb_online:
-      # we update the value every 5 seconds in case of user updates it
-      if frame % 5 == 0:
-        auto_shutdown_at = get_shutdown_val()
-      shutdown_count += 1
-    else:
+    if started or usb_online:
       shutdown_count = 0
+    else:
+      if not usb_online:
+        shutdown_count += 1
 
     if not last_shutdown_val == auto_shutdown_at:
       shutdown_count = 0