diff --git a/src/octoprint/settings.py b/src/octoprint/settings.py
index d135e798..271f5c14 100644
--- a/src/octoprint/settings.py
+++ b/src/octoprint/settings.py
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ default_settings = {
 			"temperature": 5,
 			"sdStatus": 1
 		},
+		"maxWritePasses": 5,
 		"additionalPorts": [],
 		"longRunningCommands": ["G4", "G28", "G29", "G30", "G32", "M400", "M226"],
 		"checksumRequiringCommands": ["M110"],
diff --git a/src/octoprint/util/comm.py b/src/octoprint/util/comm.py
index 269ec8cb..a1666833 100644
--- a/src/octoprint/util/comm.py
+++ b/src/octoprint/util/comm.py
@@ -236,6 +236,8 @@ class MachineCom(object):
 			except:
 				pass
 
+		self._max_write_passes = settings().getInt(["serial", "maxWritePasses"])
+
 		self._hello_command = settings().get(["serial", "helloCommand"])
 		self._trigger_ok_for_m29 = settings().getBoolean(["serial", "triggerOkForM29"])
 
@@ -1945,8 +1947,11 @@ class MachineCom(object):
 
 		cmd += "\n"
 		written = 0
+		passes = 0
 		while written < len(cmd):
 			to_send = cmd[written:]
+			old_written = written
+
 			try:
 				written += self._serial.write(to_send)
 			except serial.SerialTimeoutException:
@@ -1968,6 +1973,18 @@ class MachineCom(object):
 					self.close(is_error=True)
 				break
 
+			if old_written == written:
+				# nothing written this pass
+				passes += 1
+				if passes > self._max_write_passes:
+					# nothing written in max consecutive passes, we give up
+					message = "Could not write anything to the serial port in {} tries, something appears to be wrong with the printer communication".format(self._max_write_passes)
+					self._logger.error(message)
+					self._log(message)
+					self._errorValue = "Could not write to serial port"
+					self.close(is_error=True)
+					break
+
 	##~~ command handlers
 
 	def _gcode_T_sent(self, cmd, cmd_type=None):