diff --git a/pioreactor/actions/led_intensity.py b/pioreactor/actions/led_intensity.py
index 048d3053..d50343b3 100644
--- a/pioreactor/actions/led_intensity.py
+++ b/pioreactor/actions/led_intensity.py
@@ -154,11 +154,12 @@ def led_intensity(
         # any locked channels?
         for channel in list(desired_state.keys()):
             if is_led_channel_locked(channel):
-                updated_successfully = False
                 logger.debug(
                     f"Unable to update channel {channel} due to a software lock on it. Please try again."
                 )
-                del desired_state[channel]
+                desired_state = {k: v for k, v in desired_state.items() if k != channel}
+
+                updated_successfully = False
 
         for channel, intensity in desired_state.items():
             try:
diff --git a/pioreactor/utils/__init__.py b/pioreactor/utils/__init__.py
index 39bd9dcc..e5d26ce9 100644
--- a/pioreactor/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/pioreactor/utils/__init__.py
@@ -25,9 +25,11 @@
 from pioreactor.pubsub import subscribe_and_callback
 
 
-def boolean_retry(function: Callable, f_args, max_attempts: int = 3, sleep_for=0.25) -> bool:
+def boolean_retry(
+    func: Callable[..., bool], f_args: tuple, max_attempts: int = 3, sleep_for: float = 0.25
+) -> bool:
     for _ in range(max_attempts):
-        res = function(*f_args)
+        res = func(*f_args)
         if res:
             return res
         time.sleep(sleep_for)