diff --git a/rattail_tempmon/server.py b/rattail_tempmon/server.py
index d254809..fde4fd7 100644
--- a/rattail_tempmon/server.py
+++ b/rattail_tempmon/server.py
@@ -143,9 +143,11 @@ class TempmonServerDaemon(Daemon):
                 return
 
         # delay even the first email, until configured threshold is reached
-        timeout = datetime.timedelta(minutes=probe.therm_status_timeout)
-        if (self.now - probe.status_changed) <= timeout:
-            return
+        # unless we have a critical status
+        if status != self.enum.TEMPMON_PROBE_STATUS_CRITICAL_TEMP:
+            timeout = datetime.timedelta(minutes=probe.therm_status_timeout)
+            if (self.now - probe.status_changed) <= timeout:
+                return
 
         msgtypes = {
             self.enum.TEMPMON_PROBE_STATUS_LOW_TEMP             : 'tempmon_low_temp',