diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3b1e6be..06e91a1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@ import WSReqonet from "ws-reqonet";
 const url = `ws://localhost:3001/`;
 const protocols = [];
 const options = {
-  maxReconnectAttempts: 5,
-  maxRetryAttempts: 3,
+  maxRetryAttempts: 10,
   queueMessage: true,
 };
 
@@ -81,41 +80,34 @@ Either a single protocol string or an array of protocol strings. These strings a
 
 Type: `object`
 
-#### maxReconnectAttempts
-
-Type: `number`\
-Default: 5
-
-Number of times it attempts to reconnect within a retry
-
 #### maxRetryAttempts
 
+The maximum number of retries - how many attempts at reconnecting
+
 Type: `number`\
 Default: 5
 
-The maximum number of retries - how many attempts at reconnecting
-
 #### queueMessage
 
+Whether to store 'send' data when the connection is broken, which is to be relayed when connection is restored.
+
 Type: `boolean`\
 Default: true
 
-Whether to store 'send' data when the connection is broken, which is to be relayed when connection is restored.
-
 #### disableReconnect
 
+Whether to disable reconnection
+
 Type: `boolean`\
 Default: false
 
-Whether to disable reconnection
-
 #### debug
 
+Whether to run in debug mode which enables logging to dev tools
+
 Type: `boolean`\
 Default: false
 
-Whether to run in debug mode which enables logging to dev tools
-
 ### events
 
 #### open, close, message, error
diff --git a/index.ts b/index.ts
index bdc8341..fd4052a 100644
--- a/index.ts
+++ b/index.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 import { EventEmitter } from "events";
 
+const MAX_RECONNECT_ATTEMPTS = 10;
 const wait = (ms: number) => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
 export interface WSReqonetOptions {
-  /** # of times to reconnect within a retry */
-  maxReconnectAttempts?: number;
-  /** # of attempts at reconnecting */
+  /** # attempts to reconnect */
   maxRetryAttempts?: number;
   /** Whether to store 'send' data when connection is broken  */
   queueMessage?: boolean;
@@ -16,14 +15,13 @@ export interface WSReqonetOptions {
 // websocket with reconnection on exponential back-off
 export default class WSReqonet extends EventEmitter {
   private ws: WebSocket;
-  private reconnectAttempts = 0;
-  private maxReconnectAttempts: number;
   private retryAttempts = 0;
   private maxRetryAttempts: number;
   private queueMessage: boolean;
   private messageQueue: Array<string | Blob | ArrayBuffer | ArrayBufferView> =
     [];
 
+  private reconnectAttempts = 0;
   private intervalRef = 0;
   private forcedClose = false;
   private disableReconnect: boolean;
@@ -35,8 +33,7 @@ export default class WSReqonet extends EventEmitter {
   ) {
     super();
 
-    this.maxReconnectAttempts = options.maxReconnectAttempts ?? 5;
-    this.maxRetryAttempts = options.maxRetryAttempts ?? 5;
+    this.maxRetryAttempts = options.maxRetryAttempts ?? 10;
     this.queueMessage = options.queueMessage ?? true;
     this.disableReconnect = options.disableReconnect ?? false;
 
@@ -106,7 +103,7 @@ export default class WSReqonet extends EventEmitter {
 
     const TIMEOUT = Math.pow(2, this.retryAttempts + 1) * 1000;
     const reconnectHandler = () => {
-      if (this.reconnectAttempts < this.maxReconnectAttempts) {
+      if (this.reconnectAttempts < MAX_RECONNECT_ATTEMPTS) {
         this.reconnectAttempts++;
         console.log("ws: reconnecting - attempt: ", this.reconnectAttempts);