diff --git a/maloja/thirdparty/__init__.py b/maloja/thirdparty/__init__.py
index 9c3e670..7c582d0 100644
--- a/maloja/thirdparty/__init__.py
+++ b/maloja/thirdparty/__init__.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import xml.etree.ElementTree as ElementTree
 import json
 import urllib.parse, urllib.request
 import base64
+import time
 from doreah.logging import log
 from threading import BoundedSemaphore
 
@@ -196,6 +197,8 @@ class MetadataInterface(GenericInterface,abstract=True):
 		"activated_setting":None
 	}
 
+	delay = 0
+
 	# service provides this role only if the setting is active AND all
 	# necessary auth settings exist
 	def active_metadata(self):
@@ -219,6 +222,7 @@ class MetadataInterface(GenericInterface,abstract=True):
 		else:
 			imgurl = None
 		if imgurl is not None: imgurl = self.postprocess_url(imgurl)
+		time.sleep(self.delay)
 		return imgurl
 
 	def get_image_artist(self,artist):
@@ -234,6 +238,7 @@ class MetadataInterface(GenericInterface,abstract=True):
 		else:
 			imgurl = None
 		if imgurl is not None: imgurl = self.postprocess_url(imgurl)
+		time.sleep(self.delay)
 		return imgurl
 
 	def get_image_album(self,album):
@@ -251,6 +256,7 @@ class MetadataInterface(GenericInterface,abstract=True):
 		else:
 			imgurl = None
 		if imgurl is not None: imgurl = self.postprocess_url(imgurl)
+		time.sleep(self.delay)
 		return imgurl
 
 	# default function to parse response by descending down nodes
diff --git a/maloja/thirdparty/deezer.py b/maloja/thirdparty/deezer.py
index 0a9243b..9fa426c 100644
--- a/maloja/thirdparty/deezer.py
+++ b/maloja/thirdparty/deezer.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ class Deezer(MetadataInterface):
 		"required_settings": [],
 	}
 
+	delay = 1
+
 	def get_image_track(self,track):
 		return None
 		# we can use the album pic from the track search,
@@ -29,4 +31,9 @@ class Deezer(MetadataInterface):
 		if result.get('data') == []:
 			return True
 		if result.get('error',{}).get('code',None) == 4:
+			self.delay += 1
+			# this is permanent (for the lifetime of the process)
+			# but that's actually ok
+			# since hitting the rate limit means we are doing this to fast
+			# and these requests arent really time sensitive
 			raise RateLimitExceeded()