diff --git a/README-sse.md b/README-sse.md
index 223dcc32..47607ea7 100644
--- a/README-sse.md
+++ b/README-sse.md
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ sse.on_error([](httplib::Error err) { });
 #### Configuration
 
 ```cpp
-// Set reconnect interval (default: 3000ms)
+// Set reconnect interval (default: 3000ms, minimum: 100ms)
 sse.set_reconnect_interval(5000);
 
 // Set max reconnect attempts (default: 0 = unlimited)
diff --git a/httplib.h b/httplib.h
index e64dae0c..7622b740 100644
--- a/httplib.h
+++ b/httplib.h
@@ -5051,11 +5051,15 @@ inline bool SSEClient::should_reconnect(int count) const {
 }
 
 inline void SSEClient::wait_for_reconnect() {
-  // Use small increments to check running_ flag frequently
+  // Use small increments to check running_ flag frequently.
+  // Always wait at least one increment, so that a zero interval (e.g.
+  // "retry: 0" from the server) cannot cause a busy reconnect loop.
+  const auto step_ms = 100;
+  auto interval_ms = (std::max)(reconnect_interval_ms_, step_ms);
   auto waited = 0;
-  while (running_.load() && waited < reconnect_interval_ms_) {
-    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(100));
-    waited += 100;
+  while (running_.load() && waited < interval_ms) {
+    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(step_ms));
+    waited += step_ms;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/test.cc b/test/test.cc
index 62dddece..0cdeaa1b 100644
--- a/test/test.cc
+++ b/test/test.cc
@@ -22702,7 +22702,10 @@ TEST_F(SSEIntegrationTest, DigitRetryFieldApplied) {
   std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(500));
   sse.stop();
 
+  // The server-supplied interval is applied, but never below 100ms, so
+  // "retry: 0" does not cause a busy reconnect loop
   EXPECT_GE(connection_count.load(), 2);
+  EXPECT_LE(connection_count.load(), 10);
 }
 
 // Test: Last-Event-ID sent on reconnect