diff --git a/.changeset/brown-gorillas-notice.md b/.changeset/brown-gorillas-notice.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..89d6c23d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/brown-gorillas-notice.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"wmr": patch
+---
+
+when the hmr client disconnects attempt to reconnect with exponential backoff and a visibilityChange event-listener
diff --git a/packages/wmr/src/plugins/wmr/client.js b/packages/wmr/src/plugins/wmr/client.js
index ef017afae..7d7b68ab0 100644
--- a/packages/wmr/src/plugins/wmr/client.js
+++ b/packages/wmr/src/plugins/wmr/client.js
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@ function log(...args) {
 
 const strip = url => url.replace(/[?&]t=\d+/g, '');
 const addTimestamp = (url, time) => url + (/\?/.test(url) ? '&' : '?') + 't=' + time;
-
 const resolve = url => new URL(url, location.origin).href;
-let ws;
+
+let ws,
+    connectTimer,
+    connectDelay = 0;
 
 /**
  * @param {boolean} [needsReload] Force page to reload once it's connected
@@ -19,10 +21,15 @@ function connect(needsReload) {
 		ws.send(JSON.stringify(msg));
 	}
 
+	clearTimeout(connectTimer);
 	ws.addEventListener('open', () => {
 		log(`Connected to server.`);
+		connectDelay = 0;
+		clearTimeout(connectTimer);
+		connectTimer = undefined;
+		removeEventListener('visibilitychange', connectIfVisible);
 		if (needsReload) {
-			window.location.reload();
+			location.reload();
 		} else {
 			queue.forEach(sendSocketMessage);
 			queue = [];
@@ -31,6 +38,22 @@ function connect(needsReload) {
 
 	ws.addEventListener('message', handleMessage);
 	ws.addEventListener('error', handleError);
+	ws.addEventListener('close', reconnect);
+}
+
+function reconnect() {
+	connectDelay = Math.min(connectDelay * 2, 30000) || 500;
+	connectTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+		if (ws) ws.close();
+		connect(false);
+	}, connectDelay);
+	addEventListener('visibilitychange', connectIfVisible);
+}
+
+function connectIfVisible() {
+	if (document.visibilityState === 'visible') {
+		connect(false);
+	}
 }
 
 connect();
@@ -44,7 +67,7 @@ function handleMessage(e) {
 	const data = JSON.parse(e.data);
 	switch (data.type) {
 		case 'reload':
-			window.location.reload();
+			location.reload();
 			break;
 		case 'update':
 			if (errorOverlay) {