diff --git a/apps/widgps/widget.js b/apps/widgps/widget.js
index 269af4953..206096013 100644
--- a/apps/widgps/widget.js
+++ b/apps/widgps/widget.js
@@ -6,14 +6,6 @@
   Bangle.setGPSPower = function(on,id) {
     var isGPSon = oldSetGPSPower(on,id);
     WIDGETS.gps.draw();
-    if (isGPSon && interval === undefined) {
-      interval = setInterval(function() {
-        WIDGETS.gps.draw(WIDGETS.gps);
-      }, 10*1000); // update every 10 seconds to show gps fix/no fix
-    } else if (!isGPSon && interval !== undefined) {
-      clearInterval(interval);
-      interval = undefined;
-    }
     return isGPSon;
   }
 
@@ -29,6 +21,16 @@
     } else {
       g.setColor("#888"); // off = grey
     }
+
+    // check if we need to update the widget periodically
+    if (Bangle.isGPSOn() && interval === undefined) {
+      interval = setInterval(function() {
+        WIDGETS.gps.draw(WIDGETS.gps);
+      }, 10*1000); // update every 10 seconds to show gps fix/no fix
+    } else if (!Bangle.isGPSOn() && interval !== undefined) {
+      clearInterval(interval);
+      interval = undefined;
+    }
     g.drawImage(atob("GBiBAAAAAAAAAAAAAA//8B//+BgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGB//+B//+BgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGBgYGB//+A//8AAAAAAAAAAAAA=="), this.x, 2+this.y);
   }};
 })();