diff --git a/api/common.py b/api/common.py
index 0171480b91..095b7900c2 100644
--- a/api/common.py
+++ b/api/common.py
@@ -63,8 +63,6 @@ class HumbugAPI(object):
             if not (isinstance(val, str) or isinstance(val, unicode)):
                 request[key] = simplejson.dumps(val)
 
-        request["failures"] = 0
-
         while True:
             try:
                 res = requests.post(urlparse.urljoin(self.base_url, url), data=request,
@@ -76,7 +74,7 @@ class HumbugAPI(object):
                         if not had_error_retry:
                             sys.stdout.write("connection error %s -- retrying." % (res.status_code,))
                             had_error_retry = True
-                            request["failures"] += 1
+                            request["dont_block"] = simplejson.dumps(True)
                         else:
                             sys.stdout.write(".")
                         sys.stdout.flush()
@@ -102,7 +100,7 @@ class HumbugAPI(object):
                         if not had_error_retry:
                             sys.stdout.write("connection error -- retrying.")
                             had_error_retry = True
-                            request["failures"] += 1
+                            request["dont_block"] = simplejson.dumps(True)
                         else:
                             sys.stdout.write(".")
                         sys.stdout.flush()
diff --git a/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js b/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js
index 7b748529f3..4670393acc 100644
--- a/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js
+++ b/zephyr/static/js/zephyr.js
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ var selected_message = $();    /* = rows.get(selected_message_id)   */
 var get_updates_params = {
     last: -1,
     pointer: -1,
-    failures: 0,
     server_generation: -1, /* to be filled in on document.ready */
     reload_pending: 0
 };
+var get_updates_failures = 0;
 
 // The "message groups", i.e. blocks of messages collapsed by recipient.
 // Each message table has a list of lists.
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ function get_updates(options) {
 
     get_updates_params.pointer = furthest_read;
     get_updates_params.reload_pending = Number(reload.is_pending());
-    get_updates_params.dont_block = options.dont_block;
+    get_updates_params.dont_block = options.dont_block || get_updates_failures > 0;
 
     get_updates_xhr = $.ajax({
         type:     'POST',
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ function get_updates(options) {
                 return;
             }
 
-            get_updates_params.failures = 0;
+            get_updates_failures = 0;
             $('#connection-error').hide();
 
             if (get_updates_params.server_generation === -1) {
@@ -614,19 +614,19 @@ function get_updates(options) {
         error: function (xhr, error_type, exn) {
             if (error_type === 'timeout') {
                 // Retry indefinitely on timeout.
-                get_updates_params.failures = 0;
+                get_updates_failures = 0;
                 $('#connection-error').hide();
             } else {
-                get_updates_params.failures += 1;
+                get_updates_failures += 1;
             }
 
-            if (get_updates_params.failures >= 5) {
+            if (get_updates_failures >= 5) {
                 $('#connection-error').show();
             } else {
                 $('#connection-error').hide();
             }
 
-            var retry_sec = Math.min(90, Math.exp(get_updates_params.failures/2));
+            var retry_sec = Math.min(90, Math.exp(get_updates_failures/2));
             get_updates_timeout = setTimeout(get_updates, retry_sec*1000);
         }
     });
@@ -741,7 +741,7 @@ setInterval(function () {
         // Our app's JS wasn't running (the machine was probably
         // asleep). Now that we're running again, immediately poll for
         // new updates.
-        get_updates_params.failures = 0;
+        get_updates_failures = 0;
         restart_get_updates();
     }
     watchdog_time = new_time;
diff --git a/zephyr/views.py b/zephyr/views.py
index fcaed2de22..ad8fe761ac 100644
--- a/zephyr/views.py
+++ b/zephyr/views.py
@@ -331,13 +331,13 @@ def format_updates_response(messages=[], apply_markdown=True,
     return ret
 
 def return_messages_immediately(user_profile, client_id, last,
-                                failures, client_server_generation,
+                                client_server_generation,
                                 client_reload_pending, client_pointer,
                                 dont_block, **kwargs):
     if last is None:
         # When an API user is first querying the server to subscribe,
         # there's no reason to reply immediately.
-        # TODO: Make this work with server_generation/failures
+        # TODO: Make this work with server_generation
         return None
 
     if UserMessage.objects.filter(user_profile=user_profile).count() == 0:
@@ -378,9 +378,6 @@ def return_messages_immediately(user_profile, client_id, last,
         new_pointer = ptr
         update_types.append("pointer_update")
 
-    if failures >= 1:
-        update_types.append("reset_failure_counter")
-
     if update_types:
         return format_updates_response(messages=messages,
                                        user_profile=user_profile,
@@ -409,13 +406,12 @@ def send_with_safety_check(response, handler, apply_markdown=True, **kwargs):
 @has_request_variables
 def get_updates_backend(request, user_profile, handler, client_id,
                         last = POST(converter=int, default=None),
-                        failures = POST(converter=int, default=None),
                         client_server_generation = POST(whence='server_generation', default=None),
                         client_reload_pending = POST(whence='reload_pending', default=None),
                         client_pointer = POST(whence='pointer', converter=int, default=None),
                         dont_block = POST(converter=simplejson.loads, default=False),
                         **kwargs):
-    resp = return_messages_immediately(user_profile, client_id, last, failures,
+    resp = return_messages_immediately(user_profile, client_id, last,
                                        client_server_generation,
                                        client_reload_pending,
                                        client_pointer,