{
                        return retval;
                }
-               
-               while (1) {
+
+               int i;          
+               for (i=0; i<1000; i++) {
                        if ((retval=target_read_u8(target, adr, &status))!=ERROR_OK)
                        {
                                return retval;
                                break;
                        alive_sleep(1);
                }
+               if (i==1000)
+               {
+                       LOG_ERROR("erase timed out");
+                       return ERROR_FAIL;
+               }
                
                /* clear status, also clear read array */
                if ((retval=target_write_u16(target, adr, 0x50))!=ERROR_OK)
                
                /* get status command */
                target_write_u16(target, bank_adr, 0x70);
-               
-               while (1) {
+       
+               int i;
+               for (i=0; i<1000; i++)
+               {       
                        target_read_u8(target, bank_adr, &status);
                        if( status & 0x80 )
                                break;
                        alive_sleep(1);
                }
+               if (i==1000)
+               {
+                       LOG_ERROR("write timed out");
+                       return ERROR_FAIL;
+               }
                
                /* clear status reg and read array */
                target_write_u16(target, bank_adr, 0x50);
                /* query status command */
                target_write_u16(target, bank_adr, 0x70);
                
-               while (1) {
+               int i;
+               for (i=0; i<1000; i++)
+               {       
                        target_read_u8(target, bank_adr, &status);
                        if( status & 0x80 )
                                break;
                        alive_sleep(1);
                }
+               if (i==1000)
+               {
+                       LOG_ERROR("write timed out");
+                       return ERROR_FAIL;
+               }
                
                /* clear status reg and read array */
                target_write_u16(target, bank_adr, 0x50);