diff --git a/src/ca/tcpRecvWatchdog.cpp b/src/ca/tcpRecvWatchdog.cpp
index 186291547..6c84d6716 100644
--- a/src/ca/tcpRecvWatchdog.cpp
+++ b/src/ca/tcpRecvWatchdog.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ tcpRecvWatchdog::expire ( const epicsTime & /* currentTime */ ) // X aCC 361
                             "- disconnecting.\n", 
                 hostName, this->period ) );
 #       endif
-        this->cacRef.initiateAbortShutdown ( this->iiu );
+        this->cacRef.unresponsiveCircuitNotify ( this->iiu );
         return noRestart;
     }
     else {
diff --git a/src/ca/tcpSendWatchdog.cpp b/src/ca/tcpSendWatchdog.cpp
index 934b15726..7e0850fd3 100644
--- a/src/ca/tcpSendWatchdog.cpp
+++ b/src/ca/tcpSendWatchdog.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ epicsTimerNotify::expireStatus tcpSendWatchdog::expire (
         debugPrintf ( ( "Request not accepted by CA server %s for %g sec. Disconnecting.\n", 
             hostName, this->period ) );
 #   endif
-    this->cacRef.initiateAbortShutdown ( this->iiu );
+    this->cacRef.unresponsiveCircuitNotify ( this->iiu );
     return noRestart;
 }