A computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code being executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to perform the following process. A data transfer operation is monitored for detecting one or more temps. A backhitch delay is set based at least in part on a post-recovery condition of a tape drive performing a portion of the data transfer operation. A backhitch is caused to be performed. At least one condition of the data transfer operation is altered after the backhitch delay.