diff --git a/kstars/ekos/focus/focus.cpp b/kstars/ekos/focus/focus.cpp
--- a/kstars/ekos/focus/focus.cpp
+++ b/kstars/ekos/focus/focus.cpp
@@ -1220,9 +1220,6 @@
 
         QString HFRText = QString("%1").arg(currentHFR, 0, 'f', 2);
 
-        if (/*focusType == FOCUS_MANUAL && */ lastHFR == -1)
-            appendLogText(i18n("FITS received. No stars detected."));
-
         HFROut->setText(HFRText);
 
         if (currentHFR > 0)
@@ -1340,22 +1337,31 @@
 
             if (maxStar == nullptr)
             {
-                appendLogText(i18n("Failed to automatically select a star. Please select a star manually."));
+                if (inAutoFocus)
+                {
+                    // Attempt a new capture, hoping to get stars this time
+                    appendLogText(i18n("FITS received. No stars detected."));
+                    capture();
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    appendLogText(i18n("Failed to automatically select a star. Please select a star manually."));
 
-                //if (fw == 0 || fh == 0)
-                //targetChip->getFrame(&fx, &fy, &fw, &fh);
+                    //if (fw == 0 || fh == 0)
+                    //targetChip->getFrame(&fx, &fy, &fw, &fh);
 
-                //targetImage->setTrackingBox(QRect((fw-focusBoxSize->value())/2, (fh-focusBoxSize->value())/2, focusBoxSize->value(), focusBoxSize->value()));
-                focusView->setTrackingBox(QRect(w - focusBoxSize->value() / (subBinX * 2),
-                                                h - focusBoxSize->value() / (subBinY * 2),
-                                                focusBoxSize->value() / subBinX, focusBoxSize->value() / subBinY));
-                focusView->setTrackingBoxEnabled(true);
+                    //targetImage->setTrackingBox(QRect((fw-focusBoxSize->value())/2, (fh-focusBoxSize->value())/2, focusBoxSize->value(), focusBoxSize->value()));
+                    focusView->setTrackingBox(QRect(w - focusBoxSize->value() / (subBinX * 2),
+                                h - focusBoxSize->value() / (subBinY * 2),
+                                focusBoxSize->value() / subBinX, focusBoxSize->value() / subBinY));
+                    focusView->setTrackingBoxEnabled(true);
 
-                state = Ekos::FOCUS_WAITING;
-                qCDebug(KSTARS_EKOS_FOCUS) << "State:" << Ekos::getFocusStatusString(state);
-                emit newStatus(state);
+                    state = Ekos::FOCUS_WAITING;
+                    qCDebug(KSTARS_EKOS_FOCUS) << "State:" << Ekos::getFocusStatusString(state);
+                    emit newStatus(state);
 
-                waitStarSelectTimer.start();
+                    waitStarSelectTimer.start();
+                }
 
                 return;
             }