diff --git a/ppf.py b/ppf.py
index d03f9bd..607d57c 100644
--- a/ppf.py
+++ b/ppf.py
@@ -498,8 +498,6 @@ def worker_main(config):
     jobs_completed = 0
     proxies_tested = 0
     start_time = time.time()
-    last_tor_check = time.time()
-    tor_check_interval = 300  # Check Tor every 5 minutes
     current_tor_ip = None
     consecutive_tor_failures = 0
     worker_profiling = config.args.profile or config.common.profiling
@@ -546,33 +544,33 @@ def worker_main(config):
 
     try:
         while True:
-            # Periodic Tor health check
-            now = time.time()
-            if now - last_tor_check > tor_check_interval:
-                working, tor_ip = check_tor_connectivity(config.torhosts)
-                last_tor_check = now
-                if working:
+            # Tor check before claiming work - don't claim if Tor is down
+            working, tor_ip = check_tor_connectivity(config.torhosts)
+            if not working:
+                consecutive_tor_failures += 1
+                _log('tor down before claiming work (consecutive: %d)' % consecutive_tor_failures, 'warn')
+                try:
+                    worker_send_heartbeat(server_url, wstate['worker_key'], False, None, worker_profiling)
+                except NeedReregister:
+                    do_register()
+                if consecutive_tor_failures >= 2:
+                    _log('tor appears down, waiting before claiming work', 'error')
+                    working, current_tor_ip = wait_for_tor()
                     consecutive_tor_failures = 0
-                    if tor_ip != current_tor_ip:
-                        _log('tor circuit rotated: %s' % tor_ip, 'info')
-                        current_tor_ip = tor_ip
-                    # Send periodic heartbeat
-                    try:
-                        worker_send_heartbeat(server_url, wstate['worker_key'], True, tor_ip, worker_profiling)
-                    except NeedReregister:
-                        do_register()
                 else:
-                    consecutive_tor_failures += 1
-                    _log('tor connectivity failed (consecutive: %d)' % consecutive_tor_failures, 'warn')
-                    if consecutive_tor_failures >= 2:
-                        _log('tor appears down, pausing work', 'error')
-                        try:
-                            worker_send_heartbeat(server_url, wstate['worker_key'], False, None, worker_profiling)
-                        except NeedReregister:
-                            do_register()
-                        working, current_tor_ip = wait_for_tor()
-                        consecutive_tor_failures = 0
-                        last_tor_check = time.time()
+                    time.sleep(10)
+                    continue
+            else:
+                consecutive_tor_failures = 0
+                if tor_ip != current_tor_ip:
+                    if current_tor_ip:
+                        _log('tor circuit rotated: %s' % tor_ip, 'info')
+                    current_tor_ip = tor_ip
+                # Send heartbeat to manager
+                try:
+                    worker_send_heartbeat(server_url, wstate['worker_key'], True, tor_ip, worker_profiling)
+                except NeedReregister:
+                    do_register()
 
             # Get work from master
             try: