diff --git a/src/remote/channelSearchManager.h b/src/remote/channelSearchManager.h
index 45ec9b2..5f5458d 100644
--- a/src/remote/channelSearchManager.h
+++ b/src/remote/channelSearchManager.h
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class ChannelSearchManager {
 	 * Register channel.
 	 * @param channel
 	 */
-	virtual void registerSearchInstance(SearchInstance::shared_pointer const & channel) = 0;
+    virtual void registerSearchInstance(SearchInstance::shared_pointer const & channel, bool penalize = false) = 0;
 
 
 	/**
diff --git a/src/remote/simpleChannelSearchManagerImpl.cpp b/src/remote/simpleChannelSearchManagerImpl.cpp
index 25db05c..f8a42a6 100644
--- a/src/remote/simpleChannelSearchManagerImpl.cpp
+++ b/src/remote/simpleChannelSearchManagerImpl.cpp
@@ -28,10 +28,11 @@ const int SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::PAYLOAD_POSITION = 4;
 const double SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::ATOMIC_PERIOD = 0.225;
 const int SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::PERIOD_JITTER_MS = 25;
 
+const int SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::DEFAULT_USER_VALUE = 1;
 const int SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::BOOST_VALUE = 1;
 // must be power of two (so that search is done)
-const int SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::MAX_COUNT_VALUE = 1 << 7;
-const int SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::MAX_FALLBACK_COUNT_VALUE = (1 << 6) + 1;
+const int SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::MAX_COUNT_VALUE = 1 << 8;
+const int SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::MAX_FALLBACK_COUNT_VALUE = (1 << 7) + 1;
 
 const int SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::MAX_FRAMES_AT_ONCE = 10;
 const int SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::DELAY_BETWEEN_FRAMES_MS = 50;
@@ -105,25 +106,26 @@ int32_t SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::registeredCount()
 	return static_cast<int32_t>(m_channels.size());
 }
 
-void SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::registerSearchInstance(SearchInstance::shared_pointer const & channel)
+void SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::registerSearchInstance(SearchInstance::shared_pointer const & channel, bool penalize)
 {
 	if (m_canceled.get())
 		return;
 
-        bool immediateTrigger;
-        { 
-	    Lock guard(m_channelMutex);
-	    //overrides if already registered
-	    m_channels[channel->getSearchInstanceID()] = channel;
-	    immediateTrigger = m_channels.size() == 1;
+    bool immediateTrigger;
+    {
+        Lock guard(m_channelMutex);
 
-	    Lock guard2(m_userValueMutex);
-	    int32_t& userValue = channel->getUserValue();
-	    userValue = 1;
-        }
+        // overrides if already registered
+        m_channels[channel->getSearchInstanceID()] = channel;
+        immediateTrigger = (m_channels.size() == 1);
 
-       if (immediateTrigger)
-           callback(); 
+        Lock guard2(m_userValueMutex);
+        int32_t& userValue = channel->getUserValue();
+        userValue = (penalize ? MAX_FALLBACK_COUNT_VALUE : DEFAULT_USER_VALUE);
+    }
+
+    if (immediateTrigger)
+       callback();
 }
 
 void SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::unregisterSearchInstance(SearchInstance::shared_pointer const & channel)
@@ -314,7 +316,7 @@ void SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl::callback()
         int32_t& countValue = (*siter)->getUserValue();
 		bool skip = !isPowerOfTwo(countValue);
 		
-		if (countValue == MAX_COUNT_VALUE)
+        if (countValue >= MAX_COUNT_VALUE)
 			countValue = MAX_FALLBACK_COUNT_VALUE;
 		else 
 			countValue++;
diff --git a/src/remote/simpleChannelSearchManagerImpl.h b/src/remote/simpleChannelSearchManagerImpl.h
index ad2cff9..cead8ff 100644
--- a/src/remote/simpleChannelSearchManagerImpl.h
+++ b/src/remote/simpleChannelSearchManagerImpl.h
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl :
 	 * Register channel.
 	 * @param channel to register.
 	 */
-	void registerSearchInstance(SearchInstance::shared_pointer const & channel);
+    void registerSearchInstance(SearchInstance::shared_pointer const & channel, bool penalize = false);
 	/**
 	 * Unregister channel.
 	 * @param channel to unregister.
@@ -190,11 +190,12 @@ class SimpleChannelSearchManagerImpl :
     static const double ATOMIC_PERIOD;
     static const int PERIOD_JITTER_MS;
     
-	static const int BOOST_VALUE;
-	static const int MAX_COUNT_VALUE;
-	static const int MAX_FALLBACK_COUNT_VALUE;
+    static const int DEFAULT_USER_VALUE;
+    static const int BOOST_VALUE;
+    static const int MAX_COUNT_VALUE;
+    static const int MAX_FALLBACK_COUNT_VALUE;
 
-	static const int MAX_FRAMES_AT_ONCE;
+    static const int MAX_FRAMES_AT_ONCE;
 	static const int DELAY_BETWEEN_FRAMES_MS;
 
 };
diff --git a/src/remoteClient/clientContextImpl.cpp b/src/remoteClient/clientContextImpl.cpp
index 9d7c5d7..fbe4d8d 100644
--- a/src/remoteClient/clientContextImpl.cpp
+++ b/src/remoteClient/clientContextImpl.cpp
@@ -3622,12 +3622,12 @@ namespace epics {
                 void createChannel(Transport::shared_pointer const & transport)
                 {
                     Lock guard(m_channelMutex);
-                    
+
                     // do not allow duplicate creation to the same transport
                     if (!m_allowCreation)
                         return;
                     m_allowCreation = false;
-                    
+
                     // check existing transport
                     if (m_transport.get() && m_transport.get() != transport.get())
                     {
@@ -3660,10 +3660,18 @@ namespace epics {
                 virtual void createChannelFailed()
                 {
                     Lock guard(m_channelMutex);
-                    
+
                     cancel();
-                    // ... and search again
-                    initiateSearch();
+
+                    // release transport if active
+                    if (m_transport)
+                    {
+                        m_transport->release(getID());
+                        m_transport.reset();
+                    }
+                    
+                    // ... and search again, with penalty
+                    initiateSearch(true);
                 }
                 
                 /**
@@ -3814,7 +3822,7 @@ namespace epics {
                 /**
                  * Initiate search (connect) procedure.
                  */
-                void initiateSearch()
+                void initiateSearch(bool penalize = false)
                 {
                     Lock guard(m_channelMutex);
                     
@@ -3822,7 +3830,7 @@ namespace epics {
                     
                     if (!m_addresses.get())
                     {
-                        m_context->getChannelSearchManager()->registerSearchInstance(shared_from_this());
+                        m_context->getChannelSearchManager()->registerSearchInstance(shared_from_this(), penalize);
                     }
                     else if (!m_addresses->empty())
                     {
@@ -3854,11 +3862,12 @@ namespace epics {
                     Transport::shared_pointer transport = m_transport;
                     if (transport.get())
                     {
+                        // TODO use GUID to determine whether there are multiple servers with the same channel
                         // multiple defined PV or reconnect request (same server address)
                         if (!sockAddrAreIdentical(transport->getRemoteAddress(), serverAddress))
                         {
                             EXCEPTION_GUARD(m_requester->message("More than one channel with name '" + m_name +
-                                                                 "' detected, additional response from: " + inetAddressToString(*serverAddress), warningMessage));
+                                                                 "' detected, connected to: " + inetAddressToString(*transport->getRemoteAddress()) + ", ignored: " + inetAddressToString(*serverAddress), warningMessage));
                             return;
                         }
                     }