diff --git a/internal/routewatch/asnfetcher.go b/internal/routewatch/asnfetcher.go
index f883a56..6117f11 100644
--- a/internal/routewatch/asnfetcher.go
+++ b/internal/routewatch/asnfetcher.go
@@ -13,8 +13,17 @@ import (
 
 // ASN fetcher configuration constants.
 const (
-	// backgroundFetchInterval is how often the background fetcher runs.
-	backgroundFetchInterval = time.Minute
+	// baseInterval is the starting interval between fetch attempts.
+	baseInterval = 15 * time.Second
+
+	// minInterval is the minimum interval after successes (rate limit).
+	minInterval = 10 * time.Second
+
+	// maxInterval is the maximum interval after failures (backoff cap).
+	maxInterval = 5 * time.Minute
+
+	// backoffMultiplier is how much to multiply interval on failure.
+	backoffMultiplier = 2
 
 	// whoisStaleThreshold is how old WHOIS data can be before refresh.
 	whoisStaleThreshold = 30 * 24 * time.Hour // 30 days
@@ -31,16 +40,25 @@ type ASNFetcher struct {
 	immediateQueue chan int
 	stopCh         chan struct{}
 	wg             sync.WaitGroup
+
+	// fetchMu ensures only one fetch runs at a time
+	fetchMu sync.Mutex
+
+	// interval tracking with mutex protection
+	intervalMu      sync.Mutex
+	currentInterval time.Duration
+	consecutiveFails int
 }
 
 // NewASNFetcher creates a new ASN fetcher.
 func NewASNFetcher(db database.Store, logger *slog.Logger) *ASNFetcher {
 	return &ASNFetcher{
-		db:             db,
-		whoisClient:    whois.NewClient(),
-		logger:         logger.With("component", "asn_fetcher"),
-		immediateQueue: make(chan int, immediateQueueSize),
-		stopCh:         make(chan struct{}),
+		db:              db,
+		whoisClient:     whois.NewClient(),
+		logger:          logger.With("component", "asn_fetcher"),
+		immediateQueue:  make(chan int, immediateQueueSize),
+		stopCh:          make(chan struct{}),
+		currentInterval: baseInterval,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -48,7 +66,11 @@ func NewASNFetcher(db database.Store, logger *slog.Logger) *ASNFetcher {
 func (f *ASNFetcher) Start() {
 	f.wg.Add(1)
 	go f.run()
-	f.logger.Info("ASN fetcher started", "interval", backgroundFetchInterval)
+	f.logger.Info("ASN fetcher started",
+		"base_interval", baseInterval,
+		"min_interval", minInterval,
+		"max_interval", maxInterval,
+	)
 }
 
 // Stop gracefully shuts down the fetcher.
@@ -69,12 +91,65 @@ func (f *ASNFetcher) QueueImmediate(asn int) {
 	}
 }
 
+// getInterval returns the current fetch interval.
+func (f *ASNFetcher) getInterval() time.Duration {
+	f.intervalMu.Lock()
+	defer f.intervalMu.Unlock()
+
+	return f.currentInterval
+}
+
+// recordSuccess decreases the interval on successful fetch.
+func (f *ASNFetcher) recordSuccess() {
+	f.intervalMu.Lock()
+	defer f.intervalMu.Unlock()
+
+	f.consecutiveFails = 0
+
+	// Decrease interval by half, but not below minimum
+	newInterval := f.currentInterval / backoffMultiplier
+	if newInterval < minInterval {
+		newInterval = minInterval
+	}
+
+	if newInterval != f.currentInterval {
+		f.logger.Debug("Decreased fetch interval",
+			"old_interval", f.currentInterval,
+			"new_interval", newInterval,
+		)
+		f.currentInterval = newInterval
+	}
+}
+
+// recordFailure increases the interval on failed fetch using exponential backoff.
+func (f *ASNFetcher) recordFailure() {
+	f.intervalMu.Lock()
+	defer f.intervalMu.Unlock()
+
+	f.consecutiveFails++
+
+	// Exponential backoff: multiply by 2, capped at max
+	newInterval := f.currentInterval * backoffMultiplier
+	if newInterval > maxInterval {
+		newInterval = maxInterval
+	}
+
+	if newInterval != f.currentInterval {
+		f.logger.Debug("Increased fetch interval due to failure",
+			"old_interval", f.currentInterval,
+			"new_interval", newInterval,
+			"consecutive_failures", f.consecutiveFails,
+		)
+		f.currentInterval = newInterval
+	}
+}
+
 // run is the main background loop.
 func (f *ASNFetcher) run() {
 	defer f.wg.Done()
 
-	ticker := time.NewTicker(backgroundFetchInterval)
-	defer ticker.Stop()
+	timer := time.NewTimer(f.getInterval())
+	defer timer.Stop()
 
 	for {
 		select {
@@ -82,18 +157,44 @@ func (f *ASNFetcher) run() {
 			return
 
 		case asn := <-f.immediateQueue:
-			// Process immediate request
-			f.fetchAndUpdate(asn)
+			// Process immediate request (respects lock)
+			f.tryFetch(asn)
+			// Reset timer after immediate fetch
+			timer.Reset(f.getInterval())
 
-		case <-ticker.C:
+		case <-timer.C:
 			// Background fetch of stale/missing ASN
 			f.fetchNextStale()
+			// Reset timer with potentially updated interval
+			timer.Reset(f.getInterval())
 		}
 	}
 }
 
+// tryFetch attempts to fetch and update an ASN, respecting the fetch lock.
+// Returns true if fetch was successful.
+func (f *ASNFetcher) tryFetch(asn int) bool {
+	// Try to acquire lock, skip if another fetch is running
+	if !f.fetchMu.TryLock() {
+		f.logger.Debug("Skipping fetch, another fetch in progress", "asn", asn)
+
+		return false
+	}
+	defer f.fetchMu.Unlock()
+
+	return f.fetchAndUpdate(asn)
+}
+
 // fetchNextStale finds and fetches the next ASN needing WHOIS data.
 func (f *ASNFetcher) fetchNextStale() {
+	// Try to acquire lock, skip if another fetch is running
+	if !f.fetchMu.TryLock() {
+		f.logger.Debug("Skipping stale fetch, another fetch in progress")
+
+		return
+	}
+	defer f.fetchMu.Unlock()
+
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Minute)
 	defer cancel()
 
@@ -101,7 +202,9 @@ func (f *ASNFetcher) fetchNextStale() {
 	if err != nil {
 		if err != database.ErrNoStaleASN {
 			f.logger.Error("Failed to get stale ASN", "error", err)
+			f.recordFailure()
 		}
+		// No stale ASN is not a failure, just nothing to do
 
 		return
 	}
@@ -110,7 +213,8 @@ func (f *ASNFetcher) fetchNextStale() {
 }
 
 // fetchAndUpdate performs a WHOIS lookup and updates the database.
-func (f *ASNFetcher) fetchAndUpdate(asn int) {
+// Returns true if successful.
+func (f *ASNFetcher) fetchAndUpdate(asn int) bool {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Minute)
 	defer cancel()
 
@@ -119,8 +223,9 @@ func (f *ASNFetcher) fetchAndUpdate(asn int) {
 	info, err := f.whoisClient.LookupASN(ctx, asn)
 	if err != nil {
 		f.logger.Error("WHOIS lookup failed", "asn", asn, "error", err)
+		f.recordFailure()
 
-		return
+		return false
 	}
 
 	// Update database with WHOIS data
@@ -142,14 +247,19 @@ func (f *ASNFetcher) fetchAndUpdate(asn int) {
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		f.logger.Error("Failed to update ASN WHOIS data", "asn", asn, "error", err)
+		f.recordFailure()
 
-		return
+		return false
 	}
 
+	f.recordSuccess()
 	f.logger.Info("Updated ASN WHOIS data",
 		"asn", asn,
 		"org_name", info.OrgName,
 		"country", info.CountryCode,
 		"rir", info.RIR,
+		"next_interval", f.getInterval(),
 	)
+
+	return true
 }