diff --git a/src/or/routerlist.c b/src/or/routerlist.c
index 6721925b12..9cd5ef171c 100644
--- a/src/or/routerlist.c
+++ b/src/or/routerlist.c
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ download_status_cert_init(download_status_t *dlstatus)
   dlstatus->schedule = DL_SCHED_CONSENSUS;
   dlstatus->want_authority = DL_WANT_ANY_DIRSERVER;
   dlstatus->increment_on = DL_SCHED_INCREMENT_FAILURE;
-  dlstatus->backoff = DL_SCHED_DETERMINISTIC;
+  dlstatus->backoff = DL_SCHED_RANDOM_EXPONENTIAL;
   dlstatus->last_backoff_position = 0;
   dlstatus->last_delay_used = 0;