diff --git a/frigate/mqtt.py b/frigate/mqtt.py
index 9e3308583..79fb0713f 100644
--- a/frigate/mqtt.py
+++ b/frigate/mqtt.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import datetime
 import json
 import logging
 import threading
@@ -29,9 +30,10 @@ class FrigateMqttClient:
         self.mqtt_config = config.mqtt
         self.camera_metrics: dict[str, CameraMetricsTypes] = camera_metrics
         self.client: mqtt.Client = None
-        self.__start()
+        self.connected: bool = False
+        self._start()
 
-    def set_initial_topics(self) -> None:
+    def _set_initial_topics(self) -> None:
         """Set initial state topics."""
         for camera_name, camera in self.config.cameras.items():
             self.publish(
@@ -75,6 +77,10 @@ class FrigateMqttClient:
                 retain=False,
             )
 
+        self.publish(
+            self.mqtt_config.topic_prefix + "/available", "online", retain=True
+        )
+
     def on_recordings_command(
         self, client: mqtt.Client, userdata, message: mqtt.MQTTMessage
     ) -> None:
@@ -278,8 +284,9 @@ class FrigateMqttClient:
         """Callback to restart frigate."""
         restart_frigate()
 
-    def on_connect(self, client: mqtt.Client, userdata, flags, rc) -> None:
+    def _on_connect(self, client: mqtt.Client, userdata, flags, rc) -> None:
         """Mqtt connection callback."""
+        self.connected = True
         threading.current_thread().name = "mqtt"
         if rc != 0:
             if rc == 3:
@@ -300,14 +307,17 @@ class FrigateMqttClient:
 
         logger.debug("MQTT connected")
         client.subscribe(f"{self.mqtt_config.topic_prefix}/#")
-        self.publish(
-            self.mqtt_config.topic_prefix + "/available", "online", retain=True
-        )
+        self._set_initial_topics()
 
-    def __start(self) -> None:
+    def _on_disconnect(self, client: mqtt.Client, userdata, flags, rc) -> None:
+        """Mqtt disconnection callback."""
+        self.connected = False
+        logger.error("MQTT disconnected")
+
+    def _start(self) -> None:
         """Start mqtt client."""
         self.client = mqtt.Client(client_id=self.mqtt_config.client_id)
-        self.client.on_connect = self.on_connect
+        self.client.on_connect = self._on_connect
         self.client.will_set(
             self.mqtt_config.topic_prefix + "/available",
             payload="offline",
@@ -369,27 +379,23 @@ class FrigateMqttClient:
                 self.mqtt_config.user, password=self.mqtt_config.password
             )
         try:
-            self.client.connect(self.mqtt_config.host, self.mqtt_config.port, 60)
+            # https://stackoverflow.com/a/55390477
+            # with connect_async, retries are handled automatically
+            self.client.connect_async(self.mqtt_config.host, self.mqtt_config.port, 60)
+            self.client.loop_start()
         except Exception as e:
             logger.error(f"Unable to connect to MQTT server: {e}")
-            self.client = None
             return
 
-        self.client.loop_start()
-        self.set_initial_topics()
-
     def publish(self, topic: str, payload, retain: bool = False) -> None:
         """Wrapper for publishing when client is in valid state."""
-        if not self.client:
+        if not self.connected:
             logger.error(f"Unable to publish to {topic}: client is not connected")
             return
 
         self.client.publish(topic, payload, retain=retain)
 
     def add_topic_callback(self, topic: str, callback) -> None:
-        if not self.client:
-            return
-
         self.client.message_callback_add(topic, callback)