diff --git a/system/athena/registration.py b/system/athena/registration.py
index 97289e4199..158ce6c427 100755
--- a/system/athena/registration.py
+++ b/system/athena/registration.py
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ def register(show_spinner=False) -> str | None:
 
       if time.monotonic() - start_time > 60 and show_spinner:
         spinner.update(f"registering device - serial: {serial}, IMEI: ({imei1}, {imei2})")
+        return UNREGISTERED_DONGLE_ID  # hotfix to prevent an infinite wait for registration
 
     if show_spinner:
       spinner.close()