diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py b/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
index e85d39e8..56b18ac9 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ class ContextBool(object):
         self.active = False
 
 connecting = ContextBool()
+leader_init = ContextBool()
 
 
 def connect_to_leader(cert=None, name=None, leader=None):
@@ -385,18 +386,23 @@ def handle_connection(connection, cert, request, local=False):
         if retrythread:
             retrythread.cancel()
             retrythread = None
-        cfm.update_collective_address(request['name'],
-                                      connection.getpeername()[0])
-        tlvdata.send(connection, cfm._dump_keys(None, False))
-        tlvdata.send(connection, cfm._cfgstore['collective'])
-        tlvdata.send(connection, cfm.get_globals())
-        cfgdata = cfm.ConfigManager(None)._dump_to_json()
-        tlvdata.send(connection, {'txcount': cfm._txcount,
-                                  'dbsize': len(cfgdata)})
-        connection.sendall(cfgdata)
+        with leader_init:
+            cfm.update_collective_address(request['name'],
+                                          connection.getpeername()[0])
+            tlvdata.send(connection, cfm._dump_keys(None, False))
+            tlvdata.send(connection, cfm._cfgstore['collective'])
+            tlvdata.send(connection, cfm.get_globals())
+            cfgdata = cfm.ConfigManager(None)._dump_to_json()
+            tlvdata.send(connection, {'txcount': cfm._txcount,
+                                      'dbsize': len(cfgdata)})
+            connection.sendall(cfgdata)
         #tlvdata.send(connection, {'tenants': 0}) # skip the tenants for now,
         # so far unused anyway
-        cfm.relay_slaved_requests(drone, connection)
+        if not cfm.relay_slaved_requests(drone, connection):
+            if not retrythread:  # start a recovery if everyone else seems
+                # to have disappeared
+                retrythread = eventlet.spawn_after(30 + random.random(),
+                                                   start_collective)
         # ok, we have a connecting member whose certificate checks out
         # He needs to bootstrap his configuration and subscribe it to updates
 
@@ -471,8 +477,11 @@ def start_collective():
     if follower:
         follower.kill()
         follower = None
+    if leader_init.active:  # do not start trying to connect if we are
+        # xmitting data to a follower
+        return
     myname = get_myname()
-    for member in cfm.list_collective():
+    for member in sorted(list(cfm.list_collective())):
         if member == myname:
             continue
         if cfm.cfgleader is None:
diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/config/configmanager.py b/confluent_server/confluent/config/configmanager.py
index 5193d775..6544aef4 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/config/configmanager.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/config/configmanager.py
@@ -550,6 +550,8 @@ def relay_slaved_requests(name, listener):
                     pass
             if not cfgstreams and not cfgleader:  # last one out, set cfgleader to boolean to mark dead collective
                 stop_following(True)
+                return False
+            return True
 
 
 class StreamHandler(object):