diff --git a/lib/ExponentialBackoff.js b/lib/ExponentialBackoff.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f29325e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ExponentialBackoff.js
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+'use strict';
+
+/**
+ * ExponentialBackoff class handles the logic for increasing or decreasing the delay between
+ * multiple requests. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponential_backoff
+ *
+ * @param {number} minimum_backoff the lowest permissible delay between requests. defaults to 50ms
+ * @param {number} exponent the factor by which to increse or decrease the backoff. defaults to 2
+ * @param {number} starting_backoff the backoff between the first and second request. defaults to * 50ms
+ */
+var ExponentialBackoff = function(minimum_backoff, exponent, starting_backoff) {
+    this.minimum_backoff = minimum_backoff || 50;
+    this.exponent = exponent || 2.0;
+    this.starting_backoff = starting_backoff || this.minimum_backoff;
+
+    this.backoff = this.starting_backoff;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Get the current backoff as a simple number
+ */
+ExponentialBackoff.prototype.getBackoff = function getBackoff() {
+    return this.backoff;
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * Increase the backoff for the next request. This method should be called after something happens
+ * that would indicate a slowdown is needed, such as a failed request.
+ */
+ExponentialBackoff.prototype.increaseBackoff = function increaseBackoff() {
+    this.backoff *= this.exponent;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Decrease the backoff for the next request. The backoff will never go below the miniumum backoff
+ * value. This should be called when things are going smoothly, such as after a successful request.
+ */
+ExponentialBackoff.prototype.decreaseBackoff = function decreaseBackoff() {
+    if (this.backoff <= this.minimum_backoff) {
+        this.backoff = this.minimum_backoff;
+    } else {
+        this.backoff /= this.exponent;
+    }
+};
+
+module.exports = ExponentialBackoff;
diff --git a/lib/run_tests.js b/lib/run_tests.js
index 5e262bf..328126c 100644
--- a/lib/run_tests.js
+++ b/lib/run_tests.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ try {
     locations = [];
 }
 
+var ExponentialBackoff = require( '../lib/ExponentialBackoff');
 var util = require( 'util' );
 var isObject = require( 'is-object' );
 var request = require( 'request' );
@@ -158,6 +159,7 @@ function execTestSuite( apiUrl, testSuite, cb ){
     return;
   }
 
+  var test_interval = new ExponentialBackoff();
   testSuite.tests.forEach( function ( testCase ){
     if( validTestStatuses.indexOf( testCase.status ) === -1 ){
       throw util.format(
@@ -204,6 +206,7 @@ function execTestSuite( apiUrl, testSuite, cb ){
         return;
       }
       else if( retry_codes.indexOf(res.statusCode) !== -1 ){
+        test_interval.increaseBackoff();
         testSuite.tests.push( testCase );
         return;
       }
@@ -221,6 +224,8 @@ function execTestSuite( apiUrl, testSuite, cb ){
         process.exit( 1 );
       }
 
+      test_interval.decreaseBackoff();
+
       stats.testsCompleted++;
       process.stderr.write( util.format(
         '\rTests completed: %s/%s', stats.testsCompleted.toString().bold,
@@ -269,7 +274,7 @@ function execTestSuite( apiUrl, testSuite, cb ){
         cb( testResults );
       }
     });
-  }, 50);
+  }, test_interval.getBackoff());
 }
 
 var stats = {
diff --git a/test/ExponentialBackoff.js b/test/ExponentialBackoff.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6b8534c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/ExponentialBackoff.js
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+
+var tape = require( 'tape' );
+var ExponentialBackoff = require( '../lib/ExponentialBackoff' );
+
+
+tape( 'ExponentialBackoff', function(test) {
+    test.test( 'calling increaseBackoff() makes backoff larger', function(t) {
+        var eb = new ExponentialBackoff();
+        var startBackoff = eb.getBackoff();
+        eb.increaseBackoff();
+        t.ok(startBackoff < eb.getBackoff(), 'backoff was not higher');
+        t.end();
+    });
+
+    test.test( 'calling decreaseBackoff() lowers backoff', function(t) {
+        var eb = new ExponentialBackoff();
+        eb.increaseBackoff();
+        var startBackoff = eb.getBackoff();
+        eb.decreaseBackoff();
+        t.ok(startBackoff > eb.getBackoff(), 'backoff was not lower');
+        t.end();
+    });
+
+    test.test( 'calling decreaseBackoff() will not lower backoff below minimum', function(t) {
+        var eb = new ExponentialBackoff();
+        var startBackoff = eb.getBackoff();
+        eb.decreaseBackoff();
+        t.ok(startBackoff === eb.getBackoff(), 'backoff was not equal');
+        t.end();
+    });
+
+    test.end();
+});
diff --git a/test/test.js b/test/test.js
index 55a7ec6..428be5f 100644
--- a/test/test.js
+++ b/test/test.js
@@ -5,3 +5,4 @@
 'use strict';
 
 require('./fuzzy-tester');
+require('./ExponentialBackoff');