Apparatus and associated methods relate to selectively bypassing a daisy-chained network device based on a timing of a series of reset signals. The daisy-chained network device is bypassed if an elapsed time from a last of the reset signals of the series is longer than a predetermined time period. While no interval between adjacent reset signals of the series exceeds the predetermined time period, the daisy-chained network device is not bypassed. In some embodiments, the daisy-chained network device generates the series of reset signals. If the daisy-chained network device fails to generate a next reset signal within the predetermined time period as measured from a previous reset signal, the daisy-chained network device is bypassed. If the daisy-chained network device loses power, it will be bypassed as the reset signals will not be generated, but if the daisy-chained network device regains power, it can be reinserted into the network daisy-chain.