diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py b/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
index dfe87baa..06109be7 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def connect_to_leader(cert=None, name=None, leader=None, remote=None):
                 follower.kill()
                 cfm.stop_following()
                 follower = None
-            if follower:
+            if follower is not None:
                 follower.kill()
                 cfm.stop_following()
                 follower = None
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ def connect_to_leader(cert=None, name=None, leader=None, remote=None):
 def follow_leader(remote, leader):
     global currentleader
     global retrythread
+    global follower
     cleanexit = False
     newleader = None
     try:
@@ -186,6 +187,9 @@ def follow_leader(remote, leader):
         log.log({'info': 'Current leader ({0}) has disappeared, restarting '
                          'collective membership'.format(leader), 'subsystem': 'collective'})
         # The leader has folded, time to startup again...
+        if follower is not None:
+            follower.kill()
+        follower = None
         cfm.stop_following()
         currentleader = None
         if retrythread is None:  # start a recovery
@@ -254,7 +258,7 @@ def handle_connection(connection, cert, request, local=False):
                                                       'enabled on this '
                                                       'system'}})
                 return
-            if follower:
+            if follower is not None:
                 linfo = cfm.get_collective_member_by_address(currentleader)
                 remote = socket.create_connection((currentleader, 13001), 15)
                 remote = ssl.wrap_socket(remote, cert_reqs=ssl.CERT_NONE,
@@ -447,7 +451,7 @@ def handle_connection(connection, cert, request, local=False):
                                 {'error': 'Refusing, my name is better',
                                 'txcount': cfm._txcount,})
                             return
-        if follower:
+        if follower is not None:
             tlvdata.send(
                 connection,
                 {'error': 'Already following, assimilate leader first',
@@ -635,7 +639,7 @@ def become_leader(connection):
     global retrythread
     log.log({'info': 'Becoming leader of collective',
              'subsystem': 'collective'})
-    if follower:
+    if follower is not None:
         follower.kill()
         cfm.stop_following()
         follower = None
@@ -727,10 +731,9 @@ def start_collective():
     retrythread = None
     try:
         cfm.membership_callback = schedule_rebalance
-        if follower:
-            follower.kill()
-            cfm.stop_following()
-            follower = None
+        if follower is not None:
+            initting = False
+            return
         try:
             if cfm.cfgstreams:
                 cfm.check_quorum()
@@ -756,17 +759,17 @@ def start_collective():
             member, remote = ent
             if isinstance(remote, Exception):
                 continue
-            log.log({'info': 'Performing startup attempt to {0}'.format(
-                member), 'subsystem': 'collective'})
-            if connect_to_leader(name=myname, leader=member, remote=remote):
-                break
-        else:
-            if retrythread is None:
-                retrythread = eventlet.spawn_after(5 + random.random(),
-                                                   start_collective)
+            if follower is None:
+                log.log({'info': 'Performing startup attempt to {0}'.format(
+                    member), 'subsystem': 'collective'})
+                if not connect_to_leader(name=myname, leader=member, remote=remote):
+                    remote.close()
+            else:
+                remote.close()
     except Exception as e:
-        if retrythread is None:
-            retrythread = eventlet.spawn_after(random.random(),
-                                               start_collective)
+        pass
     finally:
+        if retrythread is None and follower is None:
+            retrythread = eventlet.spawn_after(5 + random.random(),
+                                               start_collective)
         initting = False