diff --git a/src/lib/atproto/client.ts b/src/lib/atproto/client.ts
index ad92d77..6bfc9c3 100644
--- a/src/lib/atproto/client.ts
+++ b/src/lib/atproto/client.ts
@@ -138,25 +138,31 @@ async function getJson2(url: string): Promise<unknown> {
   return res.json();
 }
 
-/** Resolve a DID's PDS endpoint (did:plc via plc.directory). Cached. */
+/** Resolve a DID's PDS endpoint (did:plc via plc.directory). Cached. A failed lookup is retried
+ *  once and NOT cached: caching null let one plc.directory blip strip every event thumbnail of
+ *  that account for the rest of the build while the event cards themselves still rendered. */
 export async function resolvePds(did: string): Promise<string | null> {
   if (pdsCache.has(did)) return pdsCache.get(did) ?? null;
-  let pds: string | null = null;
-  try {
-    if (did.startsWith('did:plc:')) {
+  if (!did.startsWith('did:plc:')) {
+    pdsCache.set(did, null);
+    return null;
+  }
+  for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 2; attempt++) {
+    try {
       const doc = (await getJson2(`https://plc.directory/${did}`)) as {
         service?: Array<{ id?: string; type?: string; serviceEndpoint?: string }>;
       };
       const svc = (doc.service ?? []).find(
         (s) => s.id?.endsWith('atproto_pds') || /pds/i.test(s.type ?? ''),
       );
-      pds = svc?.serviceEndpoint ?? null;
+      const pds = svc?.serviceEndpoint ?? null;
+      pdsCache.set(did, pds);
+      return pds;
+    } catch {
+      if (attempt === 0) await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 1000));
     }
-  } catch {
-    pds = null;
   }
-  pdsCache.set(did, pds);
-  return pds;
+  return null;
 }
 
 /** List records of a collection straight from the repo's PDS (public, no auth). */