diff --git a/src/cas/generic/casDGClient.cc b/src/cas/generic/casDGClient.cc
index a7a432022..79a1619f5 100644
--- a/src/cas/generic/casDGClient.cc
+++ b/src/cas/generic/casDGClient.cc
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ caStatus casDGClient::uknownMessageAction ()
     caServerI::dumpMsg ( pHostName, "?", mp, this->ctx.getData(), 
         "bad request code=%u in DG\n", mp->m_cmmd );
 
-	return S_cas_internal;
+	return S_cas_badProtocol;
 }
 
 //
diff --git a/src/cas/generic/casStrmClient.cc b/src/cas/generic/casStrmClient.cc
index 97850527c..0265129f7 100644
--- a/src/cas/generic/casStrmClient.cc
+++ b/src/cas/generic/casStrmClient.cc
@@ -289,10 +289,10 @@ caStatus casStrmClient::uknownMessageAction ( epicsGuard < casClientMutex > & gu
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * returning S_cas_internal here disconnects
+	 * returning S_cas_badProtocol here disconnects
 	 * the client with the bad message
 	 */
-	return S_cas_internal;
+	return S_cas_badProtocol;
 }
 
 /*