diff --git a/brainrender/atlas_specific/allen_brain_atlas/gene_expression/api.py b/brainrender/atlas_specific/allen_brain_atlas/gene_expression/api.py
index 57340dae..ec9e5654 100644
--- a/brainrender/atlas_specific/allen_brain_atlas/gene_expression/api.py
+++ b/brainrender/atlas_specific/allen_brain_atlas/gene_expression/api.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import sys
 
 import pandas as pd
+import requests
 from loguru import logger
 
 from brainrender import base_dir
@@ -86,7 +87,16 @@ def get_gene_experiments(self, gene):
         :param gene_symbol: str
         """
         url = self.gene_experiments_url.replace("-GENE_SYMBOL-", gene)
-        data = request(url).json()["msg"]
+        max_retries = 5
+        delay = 4
+
+        for i in range(max_retries):
+            try:
+                data = request(url).json()["msg"]
+                break
+            except requests.exceptions.JSONDecodeError:
+                print(f"Unable to connect to Allen API, retrying in {delay}")
+                delay *= 2
 
         if not len(data):
             print(f"No experiment found for gene {gene}")