diff --git a/scripts/content.js b/scripts/content.js
index 6e3f548..3ac12c1 100644
--- a/scripts/content.js
+++ b/scripts/content.js
@@ -329,6 +329,16 @@ async function runner() {
         return;
     }
 
+    // Check if current time is between 11pm and 9am UTC (4pm - 2am PST)
+    let now = new Date();
+    let currentHourUTC = now.getUTCHours();
+    if (currentHourUTC >= 23 || currentHourUTC < 9) {
+        // Continue running the code
+    } else {
+        isRunning = false;
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (isFoundAppointment) {
         // don't do anything if appointment is found and manual booking is required
         if (isAppointmentPage()) {
@@ -506,11 +516,20 @@ async function runner() {
 
             // if empty list, either we're banned or non operational hours or dead consulate
             // wait for some time before checking again
+            let now = new Date();
+            let currentHourUTC = now.getUTCHours();
+            let currentMinuteUTC = now.getUTCMinutes();
+
             if (availDates.length == 0) {
                 msg = `No available dates in ${consulate}, probably banned`;
                 console.log(msg);
                 await chrome.storage.local.set({ "__status": msg });
-                config.consulates[consulate].nextCheckAt = getFutureDate(SOFT_BAN_TIMEOUT, 10);
+
+                // Only set SOFT_BAN_TIMEOUT if it's not the first 5 minutes of 23pm UTC
+                if (!(currentHourUTC === 23 && currentMinuteUTC < 5)) {
+                    config.consulates[consulate].nextCheckAt = getFutureDate(SOFT_BAN_TIMEOUT, 10);
+                }
+            
                 continue;
             }