diff --git a/stack.sh b/stack.sh
index 33eb207..ca8ab41 100755
--- a/stack.sh
+++ b/stack.sh
@@ -908,7 +908,10 @@ function screen_it {
     NL=`echo -ne '\015'`
     if [[ "$ENABLED_SERVICES" =~ "$1" ]]; then
         screen -S stack -X screen -t $1
-        sleep 0.5
+        # sleep to allow bash to be ready to be send the command - we are
+        # creating a new window in screen and then sends characters, so if
+        # bash isn't running by the time we send the command, nothing happens
+        sleep 1
         screen -S stack -p $1 -X stuff "$2$NL"
     fi
 }