A method to preferentially wait for fresh data from a primary source to become available in a system where there is also an older set of data from a secondary source. The method includes receiving a data request that is to be displayed and determining if the data from the primary source is available. If the primary source is not available, a dynamic threshold value is tested to detect if a wait time for access to the primary source is exceeded. If the wait time for access to the primary source is exceeded, then older data from the secondary source instead of the primary source is acquired. The dynamic threshold includes an elapsed time since receipt of the request as measured from a receipt time of a prior request.