diff --git a/klippy/extras/neopixel.py b/klippy/extras/neopixel.py
index f21e5f6c..03856c1f 100644
--- a/klippy/extras/neopixel.py
+++ b/klippy/extras/neopixel.py
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ class PrinterNeoPixel:
                 minclock = self.mcu.print_time_to_clock(print_time)
             scmd = self.neopixel_send_cmd.send
             for i in range(8):
-                params = scmd([self.oid], minclock=minclock)
+                params = scmd([self.oid], minclock=minclock,
+                              reqclock=BACKGROUND_PRIORITY_CLOCK)
                 if params['success']:
                     break
             else:
diff --git a/klippy/mcu.py b/klippy/mcu.py
index a6246fb8..1d661050 100644
--- a/klippy/mcu.py
+++ b/klippy/mcu.py
@@ -339,8 +339,8 @@ class RetryAsyncCommand:
         if params['#sent_time'] >= self.min_query_time:
             self.min_query_time = self.reactor.NEVER
             self.reactor.async_complete(self.completion, params)
-    def get_response(self, cmd, cmd_queue, minclock=0):
-        self.serial.raw_send_wait_ack(cmd, minclock, minclock, cmd_queue)
+    def get_response(self, cmd, cmd_queue, minclock=0, reqclock=0):
+        self.serial.raw_send_wait_ack(cmd, minclock, reqclock, cmd_queue)
         first_query_time = query_time = self.reactor.monotonic()
         while 1:
             params = self.completion.wait(query_time + self.RETRY_TIME)
@@ -368,11 +368,12 @@ class CommandQueryWrapper:
         if cmd_queue is None:
             cmd_queue = serial.get_default_command_queue()
         self._cmd_queue = cmd_queue
-    def send(self, data=(), minclock=0):
+    def send(self, data=(), minclock=0, reqclock=0):
         cmd = self._cmd.encode(data)
         xh = self._xmit_helper(self._serial, self._response, self._oid)
+        reqclock = max(minclock, reqclock)
         try:
-            return xh.get_response(cmd, self._cmd_queue, minclock=minclock)
+            return xh.get_response(cmd, self._cmd_queue, minclock, reqclock)
         except serialhdl.error as e:
             raise error(str(e))
 
diff --git a/klippy/serialhdl.py b/klippy/serialhdl.py
index e3c612e7..9f5c2863 100644
--- a/klippy/serialhdl.py
+++ b/klippy/serialhdl.py
@@ -235,11 +235,11 @@ class SerialRetryCommand:
         self.serial.register_response(self.handle_callback, name, oid)
     def handle_callback(self, params):
         self.last_params = params
-    def get_response(self, cmd, cmd_queue, minclock=0):
+    def get_response(self, cmd, cmd_queue, minclock=0, reqclock=0):
         retries = 5
         retry_delay = .010
         while 1:
-            self.serial.raw_send_wait_ack(cmd, minclock, minclock, cmd_queue)
+            self.serial.raw_send_wait_ack(cmd, minclock, reqclock, cmd_queue)
             params = self.last_params
             if params is not None:
                 self.serial.register_response(None, self.name, self.oid)