diff --git a/firmware/esp32-s3-dashboard/esp32-s3-dashboard.ino b/firmware/esp32-s3-dashboard/esp32-s3-dashboard.ino
index 7270f78..3a26663 100644
--- a/firmware/esp32-s3-dashboard/esp32-s3-dashboard.ino
+++ b/firmware/esp32-s3-dashboard/esp32-s3-dashboard.ino
@@ -24,14 +24,25 @@ static lv_obj_t *touch_count_label = nullptr;
 
 static uint32_t touch_count = 0;
 static unsigned long last_wifi_attempt_ms = 0;
+static unsigned long last_wifi_label_update_ms = 0;
 static unsigned long last_status_poll_ms = 0;
 
-static void set_label_text(lv_obj_t *label, const String &text)
+static String last_wifi_label_text;
+static String last_api_label_text;
+static String last_status_label_text;
+
+static void set_label_text_if_changed(lv_obj_t *label, String &last_text, const String &text)
 {
     if (label == nullptr) {
         return;
     }
 
+    if (last_text == text) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    last_text = text;
+
     lvgl_port_lock(-1);
     lv_label_set_text(label, text.c_str());
     lvgl_port_unlock();
@@ -70,7 +81,7 @@ static void connect_wifi_if_needed()
     Serial.print("Connecting to Cargo ESP AP: ");
     Serial.println(CARGO_WIFI_SSID);
 
-    set_label_text(wifi_label, "WiFi: connecting...");
+    set_label_text_if_changed(wifi_label, last_wifi_label_text, "WiFi: connecting...");
 
     WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
     WiFi.begin(CARGO_WIFI_SSID, CARGO_WIFI_PASSWORD);
@@ -78,23 +89,29 @@ static void connect_wifi_if_needed()
 
 static void update_wifi_label()
 {
+    if (millis() - last_wifi_label_update_ms < 5000) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    last_wifi_label_update_ms = millis();
+
     if (WiFi.status() == WL_CONNECTED) {
         String text = "WiFi: connected\nIP: ";
         text += WiFi.localIP().toString();
         text += "\nRSSI: ";
         text += String(WiFi.RSSI());
         text += " dBm";
-        set_label_text(wifi_label, text);
+        set_label_text_if_changed(wifi_label, last_wifi_label_text, text);
     } else {
-        set_label_text(wifi_label, "WiFi: not connected\nSSID: " + String(CARGO_WIFI_SSID));
+        set_label_text_if_changed(wifi_label, last_wifi_label_text, "WiFi: not connected\nSSID: " + String(CARGO_WIFI_SSID));
     }
 }
 
 static void poll_status_api()
 {
     if (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
-        set_label_text(api_label, "API: waiting for WiFi");
-        set_label_text(status_label, "No API response yet.");
+        set_label_text_if_changed(api_label, last_api_label_text, "API: waiting for WiFi");
+        set_label_text_if_changed(status_label, last_status_label_text, "No API response yet.");
         return;
     }
 
@@ -107,7 +124,7 @@ static void poll_status_api()
     Serial.print("GET ");
     Serial.println(CARGO_API_STATUS_URL);
 
-    set_label_text(api_label, "API: requesting /api/v1/status");
+    set_label_text_if_changed(api_label, last_api_label_text, "API: requesting /api/v1/status");
 
     HTTPClient http;
     http.begin(CARGO_API_STATUS_URL);
@@ -123,21 +140,21 @@ static void poll_status_api()
         String api_text = "API: HTTP ";
         api_text += String(code);
         api_text += "\nGET /api/v1/status";
-        set_label_text(api_label, api_text);
+        set_label_text_if_changed(api_label, last_api_label_text, api_text);
 
         if (body.length() > 900) {
             body = body.substring(0, 900);
             body += "\n...truncated...";
         }
 
-        set_label_text(status_label, body);
+        set_label_text_if_changed(status_label, last_status_label_text, body);
     } else {
         String error = "API request failed: ";
         error += http.errorToString(code);
 
         Serial.println(error);
-        set_label_text(api_label, error);
-        set_label_text(status_label, "No valid response from Cargo ESP.");
+        set_label_text_if_changed(api_label, last_api_label_text, error);
+        set_label_text_if_changed(status_label, last_status_label_text, "No valid response from Cargo ESP.");
     }
 
     http.end();