diff --git a/src/subscriptions.c b/src/subscriptions.c
index 67d0bf9f..a77987a4 100644
--- a/src/subscriptions.c
+++ b/src/subscriptions.c
@@ -296,6 +296,8 @@ subscription_reschedule(void)
 
       if (!s->ths_channel)
         s->ths_service = si->si_s;
+
+      s->ths_last_error = 0;
     }
 
     error = s->ths_testing_error;
@@ -313,6 +315,13 @@ subscription_reschedule(void)
     s->ths_current_instance = si;
 
     if(si == NULL) {
+      if (s->ths_last_error != error || s->ths_last_find + 2 >= dispatch_clock) {
+        tvhtrace("subscription", "instance not available, retrying");
+        if (s->ths_last_error != error)
+          s->ths_last_find = dispatch_clock;
+        s->ths_last_error = error;
+        continue;
+      }
       /* No service available */
       sm = streaming_msg_create_code(SMT_NOSTART, error);
       streaming_target_deliver(s->ths_output, sm);
diff --git a/src/subscriptions.h b/src/subscriptions.h
index fad0edec..6bf4fa8a 100644
--- a/src/subscriptions.h
+++ b/src/subscriptions.h
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ typedef struct th_subscription {
 
   int ths_flags;
 
+  time_t ths_last_find;
+  int ths_last_error;
+
   streaming_message_t *ths_start_message;
 
   char *ths_hostname;