diff --git a/octodns/provider/ns1.py b/octodns/provider/ns1.py
index 8acbd53..da2d64a 100644
--- a/octodns/provider/ns1.py
+++ b/octodns/provider/ns1.py
@@ -22,51 +22,44 @@ from .base import BaseProvider
 class Ns1Client(object):
     log = getLogger('NS1Client')
 
-    def __init__(self, api_key, retry_delay=1):
-        self.retry_delay = retry_delay
+    def __init__(self, api_key, retry_count=4):
+        self.retry_count = retry_count
 
         client = NS1(apiKey=api_key)
         self._records = client.records()
         self._zones = client.zones()
 
+    def _try(self, method, *args, **kwargs):
+        tries = self.retry_count
+        while tries:
+            try:
+                return method(*args, **kwargs)
+            except RateLimitException as e:
+                period = float(e.period)
+                self.log.warn('rate limit encountered, pausing '
+                              'for %ds and trying again, %d remaining',
+                              period, tries)
+                sleep(period)
+                tries -= 1
+        raise
+
     def zones_retrieve(self, name):
-        return self._zones.retrieve(name)
+        return self._try(self._zones.retrieve, name)
 
     def zones_create(self, name):
-        return self._zones.create(name)
+        return self._try(self._zones.create, name)
 
     def records_retrieve(self, zone, domain, _type):
-        return self._records.retrieve(zone, domain, _type)
+        return self._try(self._records.retrieve, zone, domain, _type)
 
     def records_create(self, zone, domain, _type, **params):
-        try:
-            return self._records.create(zone, domain, _type, **params)
-        except RateLimitException as e:
-            period = float(e.period)
-            self.log.warn('_apply_Create: rate limit encountered, pausing '
-                          'for %ds and trying again', period)
-            sleep(period)
-            return self._records.create(zone, domain, _type, **params)
+        return self._try(self._records.create, zone, domain, _type, **params)
 
     def records_update(self, zone, domain, _type, **params):
-        try:
-            return self._records.update(zone, domain, _type, **params)
-        except RateLimitException as e:
-            period = float(e.period)
-            self.log.warn('_apply_Update: rate limit encountered, pausing '
-                          'for %ds and trying again', period)
-            sleep(period)
-            return self._records.update(zone, domain, _type, **params)
+        return self._try(self._records.update, zone, domain, _type, **params)
 
     def records_delete(self, zone, domain, _type):
-        try:
-            return self._records.delete(zone, domain, _type)
-        except RateLimitException as e:
-            period = float(e.period)
-            self.log.warn('_apply_Delete: rate limit encountered, pausing '
-                          'for %ds and trying again', period)
-            sleep(period)
-            return self._records.delete(zone, domain, _type)
+        return self._try(self._records.delete, zone, domain, _type)
 
 
 class Ns1Provider(BaseProvider):
@@ -84,12 +77,12 @@ class Ns1Provider(BaseProvider):
 
     ZONE_NOT_FOUND_MESSAGE = 'server error: zone not found'
 
-    def __init__(self, id, api_key, retry_delay=1, *args, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, id, api_key, retry_count=4, *args, **kwargs):
         self.log = getLogger('Ns1Provider[{}]'.format(id))
-        self.log.debug('__init__: id=%s, api_key=***, retry_delay=%d', id,
-                       retry_delay)
+        self.log.debug('__init__: id=%s, api_key=***, retry_count=%d', id,
+                       retry_count)
         super(Ns1Provider, self).__init__(id, *args, **kwargs)
-        self._client = Ns1Client(api_key, retry_delay)
+        self._client = Ns1Client(api_key, retry_count)
 
     def _data_for_A(self, _type, record):
         # record meta (which would include geo information is only
diff --git a/tests/test_octodns_provider_ns1.py b/tests/test_octodns_provider_ns1.py
index 0f23222..0743943 100644
--- a/tests/test_octodns_provider_ns1.py
+++ b/tests/test_octodns_provider_ns1.py
@@ -9,10 +9,11 @@ from collections import defaultdict
 from mock import call, patch
 from ns1.rest.errors import AuthException, RateLimitException, \
     ResourceException
+from six import text_type
 from unittest import TestCase
 
 from octodns.record import Delete, Record, Update
-from octodns.provider.ns1 import Ns1Provider
+from octodns.provider.ns1 import Ns1Client, Ns1Provider
 from octodns.zone import Zone
 
 
@@ -497,3 +498,46 @@ class TestNs1Provider(TestCase):
         }
         self.assertEqual(b_expected,
                          provider._data_for_CNAME(b_record['type'], b_record))
+
+
+class TestNs1Client(TestCase):
+
+    @patch('ns1.rest.zones.Zones.retrieve')
+    def test_retry_behavior(self, zone_retrieve_mock):
+        client = Ns1Client('dummy-key')
+
+        # No retry required, just calls and is returned
+        zone_retrieve_mock.reset_mock()
+        zone_retrieve_mock.side_effect = ['foo']
+        self.assertEquals('foo', client.zones_retrieve('unit.tests'))
+        zone_retrieve_mock.assert_has_calls([call('unit.tests')])
+
+        # One retry required
+        zone_retrieve_mock.reset_mock()
+        zone_retrieve_mock.side_effect = [
+            RateLimitException('boo', period=0),
+            'foo'
+        ]
+        self.assertEquals('foo', client.zones_retrieve('unit.tests'))
+        zone_retrieve_mock.assert_has_calls([call('unit.tests')])
+
+        # Two retries required
+        zone_retrieve_mock.reset_mock()
+        zone_retrieve_mock.side_effect = [
+            RateLimitException('boo', period=0),
+            'foo'
+        ]
+        self.assertEquals('foo', client.zones_retrieve('unit.tests'))
+        zone_retrieve_mock.assert_has_calls([call('unit.tests')])
+
+        # Exhaust our retries
+        zone_retrieve_mock.reset_mock()
+        zone_retrieve_mock.side_effect = [
+            RateLimitException('first', period=0),
+            RateLimitException('boo', period=0),
+            RateLimitException('boo', period=0),
+            RateLimitException('last', period=0),
+        ]
+        with self.assertRaises(RateLimitException) as ctx:
+            client.zones_retrieve('unit.tests')
+        self.assertEquals('last', text_type(ctx.exception))