diff --git a/fedbadges/manual/libravatar.py b/fedbadges/manual/libravatar.py
index 2a6c12c..2f0697f 100644
--- a/fedbadges/manual/libravatar.py
+++ b/fedbadges/manual/libravatar.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import hashlib
 import logging
+import sys
+import traceback
 
+import backoff
 import click
 import requests
 from fedora_messaging.config import conf as fm_config
@@ -16,6 +19,31 @@
 HTTP_TIMEOUT = 5
 
 
+def _backoff_hdlr(details):
+    log.warning("Request to Libravatar failed, retrying.")
+
+
+def _giveup_hdlr(details):
+    log.warning(
+        f"Request to Libravatar failed, giving up. {traceback.format_tb(sys.exc_info()[2])}"
+    )
+
+
+@backoff.on_exception(
+    backoff.expo,
+    (requests.exceptions.SSLError, requests.exceptions.ConnectionError),
+    max_tries=10,
+    on_backoff=_backoff_hdlr,
+    on_giveup=_giveup_hdlr,
+    raise_on_giveup=False,
+)
+def query_libravatar(nickname):
+    openid = f"http://{nickname}.id.fedoraproject.org/"
+    hash = hashlib.sha256(openid.encode("utf-8")).hexdigest()
+    url = f"https://seccdn.libravatar.org/avatar/{hash}?d=404"
+    return requests.get(url, timeout=HTTP_TIMEOUT)
+
+
 @click.command()
 @option_debug
 def main(debug):
@@ -39,23 +67,12 @@ def main(debug):
             log.debug("Skipping %s", person)
             continue
 
-        openid = f"http://{person.nickname}.id.fedoraproject.org/"
-        hash = hashlib.sha256(openid.encode("utf-8")).hexdigest()
-        url = f"https://seccdn.libravatar.org/avatar/{hash}?d=404"
-
-        response = None
-        for i in range(10):
-            log.debug("Try %s on %s", i, url)
-            try:
-                response = requests.get(url, timeout=HTTP_TIMEOUT)
-                break
-            except requests.exceptions.SSLError as e:
-                print(" * failed, trying again", str(e))
-
+        response = query_libravatar(person.nickname)
         if response is None:
-            raise
+            # Query failed, ignore
+            continue
 
-        if response.status_code == 200:
+        if response.ok:
             log.info("%s totally gets the mugshot badge.", person.nickname)
             good.append(person)
             award_badge(tahrir, badge, person.email, check_existing=False)