diff --git a/src/flash/str9x.c b/src/flash/str9x.c
index e781c144d08021936572f84701a75edea43ad33d..94a2a1cf15e32ca38cc78317386f22a4012520cd 100644
--- a/src/flash/str9x.c
+++ b/src/flash/str9x.c
@@ -305,8 +305,9 @@ int str9x_erase(struct flash_bank_s *bank, int first, int last)
 		{
 			return retval;
 		}
-		
-		while (1) {
+
+		int i;		
+		for (i=0; i<1000; i++) {
 			if ((retval=target_read_u8(target, adr, &status))!=ERROR_OK)
 			{
 				return retval;
@@ -315,6 +316,11 @@ int str9x_erase(struct flash_bank_s *bank, int first, int last)
 				break;
 			alive_sleep(1);
 		}
+		if (i==1000)
+		{
+			LOG_ERROR("erase timed out");
+			return ERROR_FAIL;
+		}
 		
 		/* clear status, also clear read array */
 		if ((retval=target_write_u16(target, adr, 0x50))!=ERROR_OK)
@@ -571,13 +577,20 @@ int str9x_write(struct flash_bank_s *bank, u8 *buffer, u32 offset, u32 count)
 		
 		/* get status command */
 		target_write_u16(target, bank_adr, 0x70);
-		
-		while (1) {
+	
+		int i;
+		for (i=0; i<1000; i++)
+		{	
 			target_read_u8(target, bank_adr, &status);
 			if( status & 0x80 )
 				break;
 			alive_sleep(1);
 		}
+		if (i==1000)
+		{
+			LOG_ERROR("write timed out");
+			return ERROR_FAIL;
+		}
 		
 		/* clear status reg and read array */
 		target_write_u16(target, bank_adr, 0x50);
@@ -614,12 +627,19 @@ int str9x_write(struct flash_bank_s *bank, u8 *buffer, u32 offset, u32 count)
 		/* query status command */
 		target_write_u16(target, bank_adr, 0x70);
 		
-		while (1) {
+		int i;
+		for (i=0; i<1000; i++)
+		{	
 			target_read_u8(target, bank_adr, &status);
 			if( status & 0x80 )
 				break;
 			alive_sleep(1);
 		}
+		if (i==1000)
+		{
+			LOG_ERROR("write timed out");
+			return ERROR_FAIL;
+		}
 		
 		/* clear status reg and read array */
 		target_write_u16(target, bank_adr, 0x50);