diff --git a/openc3/lib/openc3/interfaces/interface.rb b/openc3/lib/openc3/interfaces/interface.rb
index 58eff1da5f..de6893bfab 100644
--- a/openc3/lib/openc3/interfaces/interface.rb
+++ b/openc3/lib/openc3/interfaces/interface.rb
@@ -198,14 +198,16 @@ def connect
             log_dont_log.upcase!
             period = "#{period.to_f}s"
             @scheduler.every period do
-              begin
-                if log_dont_log == 'DONT_LOG'
-                  cmd(cmd_string, log_message: false)
-                else
-                  cmd(cmd_string)
+              if connected?()
+                begin
+                  if log_dont_log == 'DONT_LOG'
+                    cmd(cmd_string, log_message: false)
+                  else
+                    cmd(cmd_string)
+                  end
+                rescue Exception => err
+                  Logger.error("Error sending periodic cmd(#{cmd_string}):\n#{err.formatted}")
                 end
-              rescue Exception => err
-                Logger.error("Error sending periodic cmd(#{cmd_string}):\n#{err.formatted}")
               end
             end
           end
diff --git a/openc3/lib/openc3/microservices/interface_microservice.rb b/openc3/lib/openc3/microservices/interface_microservice.rb
index 726479dbcf..219cfa0db8 100644
--- a/openc3/lib/openc3/microservices/interface_microservice.rb
+++ b/openc3/lib/openc3/microservices/interface_microservice.rb
@@ -613,7 +613,16 @@ def handle_connection_lost(err = nil, reconnect: true)
 
     def connect
       @logger.info "#{@interface.name}: Connecting ..."
-      @interface.connect
+      begin
+        @interface.connect
+      rescue Exception => error
+        begin
+          @interface.disconnect # Ensure disconnect is called at least once on a partial connect
+        rescue Exception
+          # We want to report any connect errors, not disconnect in this case
+        end
+        raise error
+      end
       @interface.state = 'CONNECTED'
       if @interface_or_router == 'INTERFACE'
         InterfaceStatusModel.set(@interface.as_json(:allow_nan => true), scope: @scope)
diff --git a/openc3/python/openc3/interfaces/interface.py b/openc3/python/openc3/interfaces/interface.py
index 6cff465477..495a3578a0 100644
--- a/openc3/python/openc3/interfaces/interface.py
+++ b/openc3/python/openc3/interfaces/interface.py
@@ -487,15 +487,16 @@ def protocol_cmd(self, cmd_name, *cmd_args, read_write="READ_WRITE", index=-1):
         return handled
 
     def run_periodic_cmd(self, log_dont_log, cmd_string):
-        try:
-            if log_dont_log == "DONT_LOG":
-                cmd(cmd_string, log_message=False)
-            else:
-                cmd(cmd_string)
-        except Exception as error:
-            Logger.error(
-                f"Error sending periodic cmd({cmd_string}):\n{traceback.format_exception(error)}"
-            )
+        if self.connected():
+            try:
+                if log_dont_log == "DONT_LOG":
+                    cmd(cmd_string, log_message=False)
+                else:
+                    cmd(cmd_string)
+            except Exception as error:
+                Logger.error(
+                    f"Error sending periodic cmd({cmd_string}):\n{traceback.format_exception(error)}"
+                )
 
     def scheduler_thread_body(self):
         next_time = time.time()
diff --git a/openc3/python/openc3/microservices/interface_microservice.py b/openc3/python/openc3/microservices/interface_microservice.py
index c227b4735a..8bf5f5343b 100644
--- a/openc3/python/openc3/microservices/interface_microservice.py
+++ b/openc3/python/openc3/microservices/interface_microservice.py
@@ -692,6 +692,16 @@ def handle_connection_lost(self, error=None, reconnect=True):
 
     def connect(self):
         self.logger.info(f"{self.interface.name}: Connecting :")
+
+        try:
+            self.interface.connect()
+        except RuntimeError as error:
+            try:
+                self.interface.disconnect()  # Ensure disconnect is called at least once on a partial connect
+            except RuntimeError:
+                pass  # We want to report any connect errors, not disconnect in this case
+            raise error
+
         self.interface.connect()
         self.interface.state = "CONNECTED"
         if self.interface_or_router == "INTERFACE":