diff --git a/client/app/scripts/actions/app-actions.js b/client/app/scripts/actions/app-actions.js
index 64e81e98e..90557c212 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/actions/app-actions.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/actions/app-actions.js
@@ -39,6 +39,12 @@ module.exports = {
     WebapiUtils.getNodesDelta(AppStore.getCurrentTopologyUrl());
   },
 
+  closeWebsocket: function() {
+    AppDispatcher.dispatch({
+      type: ActionTypes.CLOSE_WEBSOCKET
+    });
+  },
+
   enterEdge: function(edgeId) {
     AppDispatcher.dispatch({
       type: ActionTypes.ENTER_EDGE,
@@ -104,6 +110,13 @@ module.exports = {
     });
   },
 
+  receiveError: function(errorUrl) {
+    AppDispatcher.dispatch({
+        errorUrl: errorUrl,
+        type: ActionTypes.RECEIVE_ERROR
+    });
+  },
+
   route: function(state) {
     AppDispatcher.dispatch({
       state: state,
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/charts/nodes-chart.js b/client/app/scripts/charts/nodes-chart.js
index 476826b3f..952eff3e5 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/charts/nodes-chart.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/charts/nodes-chart.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 const _ = require('lodash');
 const d3 = require('d3');
-const debug = require('debug')('nodes-chart');
+const debug = require('debug')('scope:nodes-chart');
 const React = require('react');
 const timely = require('timely');
 
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/charts/nodes-layout.js b/client/app/scripts/charts/nodes-layout.js
index 651aef71c..a3fad85ec 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/charts/nodes-layout.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/charts/nodes-layout.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 const dagre = require('dagre');
-const debug = require('debug')('nodes-layout');
+const debug = require('debug')('scope:nodes-layout');
 const _ = require('lodash');
 
 const MAX_NODES = 100;
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/components/app.js b/client/app/scripts/components/app.js
index febbebb16..8fac2c886 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/components/app.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/components/app.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ const ESC_KEY_CODE = 27;
 function getStateFromStores() {
   return {
     currentTopology: AppStore.getCurrentTopology(),
-    connectionState: AppStore.getConnectionState(),
+    errorUrl: AppStore.getErrorUrl(),
     currentGrouping: AppStore.getCurrentGrouping(),
     highlightedEdgeIds: AppStore.getHighlightedEdgeIds(),
     highlightedNodeIds: AppStore.getHighlightedNodeIds(),
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ const App = React.createClass({
         <div className="header">
           <Logo />
           <Topologies topologies={this.state.topologies} currentTopology={this.state.currentTopology} />
-          <Status connectionState={this.state.connectionState} />
+          <Status errorUrl={this.state.errorUrl} />
         </div>
 
         <Nodes nodes={this.state.nodes} highlightedNodeIds={this.state.highlightedNodeIds}
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/components/status.js b/client/app/scripts/components/status.js
index d07d13f4f..82cf513e3 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/components/status.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/components/status.js
@@ -2,21 +2,22 @@ const React = require('react');
 
 const Status = React.createClass({
 
-  renderConnectionState: function() {
-    return (
-      <div className="status-connection">
-        <span className="status-icon fa fa-exclamation-circle" />
-        <span className="status-label">Scope is disconnected</span>
-      </div>
-    );
+  renderConnectionState: function(errorUrl) {
+    if (errorUrl) {
+      const title = 'Cannot reach Scope. Make sure the following URL is reachable: ' + errorUrl;
+      return (
+        <div className="status-connection" title={title}>
+          <span className="status-icon fa fa-exclamation-circle" />
+          <span className="status-label">Trying to reconnect...</span>
+        </div>
+      );
+    }
   },
 
   render: function() {
-    const isDisconnected = this.props.connectionState === 'disconnected';
-
     return (
       <div className="status">
-        {isDisconnected && this.renderConnectionState()}
+        {this.renderConnectionState(this.props.errorUrl)}
       </div>
     );
   }
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/constants/action-types.js b/client/app/scripts/constants/action-types.js
index ffce74550..ca6084a4b 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/constants/action-types.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/constants/action-types.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ module.exports = keymirror({
   CLICK_GROUPING: null,
   CLICK_NODE: null,
   CLICK_TOPOLOGY: null,
+  CLOSE_WEBSOCKET: null,
   ENTER_EDGE: null,
   ENTER_NODE: null,
   HIT_ESC_KEY: null,
@@ -15,5 +16,6 @@ module.exports = keymirror({
   RECEIVE_NODES_DELTA: null,
   RECEIVE_TOPOLOGIES: null,
   RECEIVE_API_DETAILS: null,
+  RECEIVE_ERROR: null,
   ROUTE_TOPOLOGY: null
 });
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/stores/__tests__/app-store-test.js b/client/app/scripts/stores/__tests__/app-store-test.js
index 7ca3c6668..c3487ea2c 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/stores/__tests__/app-store-test.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/stores/__tests__/app-store-test.js
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ describe('AppStore', function() {
     grouping: 'grouped'
   };
 
+  const CloseWebsocketAction = {
+    type: ActionTypes.CLOSE_WEBSOCKET
+  };
+
   const HitEscAction = {
     type: ActionTypes.HIT_ESC_KEY
   };
@@ -64,6 +68,8 @@ describe('AppStore', function() {
   };
 
   beforeEach(function() {
+    // clear AppStore singleton
+    delete require.cache[require.resolve('../app-store')];
     AppStore = require('../app-store');
     registeredCallback = AppStore.registeredCallback;
   });
@@ -114,22 +120,34 @@ describe('AppStore', function() {
   });
 
   it('keeps showing nodes on navigating back after node click', function() {
+    registeredCallback(ReceiveTopologiesAction);
+    registeredCallback(ClickTopologyAction);
     registeredCallback(ReceiveNodesDeltaAction);
-    // TODO clear AppStore cache
+
     expect(AppStore.getAppState())
-      .toEqual({"topologyId":"topo1-grouped","grouping":"none","selectedNodeId": null});
+      .toEqual({"topologyId":"topo1","grouping":"none","selectedNodeId": null});
 
     registeredCallback(ClickNodeAction);
     expect(AppStore.getAppState())
-      .toEqual({"topologyId":"topo1-grouped","grouping":"none","selectedNodeId": 'n1'});
+      .toEqual({"topologyId":"topo1","grouping":"none","selectedNodeId": 'n1'});
 
     // go back in browsing
-    RouteAction.state = {"topologyId":"topo1-grouped","grouping":"none","selectedNodeId": null};
+    RouteAction.state = {"topologyId":"topo1","grouping":"none","selectedNodeId": null};
     registeredCallback(RouteAction);
     expect(AppStore.getSelectedNodeId()).toBe(null);
     expect(AppStore.getNodes()).toEqual(NODE_SET);
 
   });
 
+  // connection errors
+
+  it('resets topology on websocket reconnect', function() {
+    registeredCallback(ReceiveNodesDeltaAction);
+    expect(AppStore.getNodes()).toEqual(NODE_SET);
+
+    registeredCallback(CloseWebsocketAction);
+    expect(AppStore.getNodes()).toEqual({});
+  });
+
 
 });
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/stores/app-store.js b/client/app/scripts/stores/app-store.js
index 8db061b74..16f558d55 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/stores/app-store.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/stores/app-store.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 const EventEmitter = require('events').EventEmitter;
 const _ = require('lodash');
 const assign = require('object-assign');
-const debug = require('debug')('app-store');
+const debug = require('debug')('scope:app-store');
 
 const AppDispatcher = require('../dispatcher/app-dispatcher');
 const ActionTypes = require('../constants/action-types');
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ function findCurrentTopology(subTree, topologyId) {
 
 // Initial values
 
-let connectionState = 'disconnected';
 let currentGrouping = 'none';
 let currentTopologyId = 'containers';
+let errorUrl = null;
 let version = '';
 let mouseOverEdgeId = null;
 let mouseOverNodeId = null;
@@ -54,10 +54,6 @@ const AppStore = assign({}, EventEmitter.prototype, {
     };
   },
 
-  getConnectionState: function() {
-    return connectionState;
-  },
-
   getCurrentTopology: function() {
     return findCurrentTopology(topologies, currentTopologyId);
   },
@@ -74,6 +70,10 @@ const AppStore = assign({}, EventEmitter.prototype, {
     return currentGrouping;
   },
 
+  getErrorUrl: function() {
+    return errorUrl;
+  },
+
   getHighlightedEdgeIds: function() {
     if (mouseOverNodeId) {
       // all neighbour combinations because we dont know which direction exists
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ const AppStore = assign({}, EventEmitter.prototype, {
   getVersion: function() {
     return version;
   }
+
 });
 
 // Store Dispatch Hooks
@@ -160,6 +161,11 @@ AppStore.registeredCallback = function(payload) {
       AppStore.emit(AppStore.CHANGE_EVENT);
       break;
 
+    case ActionTypes.CLOSE_WEBSOCKET:
+      nodes = {};
+      AppStore.emit(AppStore.CHANGE_EVENT);
+      break;
+
     case ActionTypes.ENTER_EDGE:
       mouseOverEdgeId = payload.edgeId;
       AppStore.emit(AppStore.CHANGE_EVENT);
@@ -186,7 +192,13 @@ AppStore.registeredCallback = function(payload) {
       AppStore.emit(AppStore.CHANGE_EVENT);
       break;
 
+    case ActionTypes.RECEIVE_ERROR:
+      errorUrl = payload.errorUrl;
+      AppStore.emit(AppStore.CHANGE_EVENT);
+      break;
+
     case ActionTypes.RECEIVE_NODE_DETAILS:
+      errorUrl = null;
       nodeDetails = payload.details;
       AppStore.emit(AppStore.CHANGE_EVENT);
       break;
@@ -197,7 +209,7 @@ AppStore.registeredCallback = function(payload) {
         'update', _.size(payload.delta.update),
         'add', _.size(payload.delta.add));
 
-      connectionState = 'connected';
+      errorUrl = null;
 
       // nodes that no longer exist
       _.each(payload.delta.remove, function(nodeId) {
@@ -225,11 +237,13 @@ AppStore.registeredCallback = function(payload) {
       break;
 
     case ActionTypes.RECEIVE_TOPOLOGIES:
+      errorUrl = null;
       topologies = payload.topologies;
       AppStore.emit(AppStore.CHANGE_EVENT);
       break;
 
     case ActionTypes.RECEIVE_API_DETAILS:
+      errorUrl = null;
       version = payload.version;
       AppStore.emit(AppStore.CHANGE_EVENT);
       break;
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/utils/web-api-utils.js b/client/app/scripts/utils/web-api-utils.js
index dce7160c3..0c0e9a4f5 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/utils/web-api-utils.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/utils/web-api-utils.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+const debug = require('debug')('scope:web-api-utils');
 const reqwest = require('reqwest');
 
 const AppActions = require('../actions/app-actions');
@@ -5,16 +6,21 @@ const AppActions = require('../actions/app-actions');
 const WS_URL = window.WS_URL || 'ws://' + location.host;
 
 
+const apiTimerInterval = 10000;
+const reconnectTimerInterval = 5000;
+const topologyTimerInterval = apiTimerInterval;
+const updateFrequency = '5s';
+
 let socket;
 let reconnectTimer = 0;
 let currentUrl = null;
-let updateFrequency = '5s';
 let topologyTimer = 0;
 let apiDetailsTimer = 0;
 
 function createWebsocket(topologyUrl) {
   if (socket) {
     socket.onclose = null;
+    socket.onerror = null;
     socket.close();
   }
 
@@ -23,10 +29,17 @@ function createWebsocket(topologyUrl) {
   socket.onclose = function() {
     clearTimeout(reconnectTimer);
     socket = null;
+    AppActions.closeWebsocket();
+    debug('Closed websocket to ' + currentUrl);
 
     reconnectTimer = setTimeout(function() {
       createWebsocket(topologyUrl);
-    }, 5000);
+    }, reconnectTimerInterval);
+  };
+
+  socket.onerror = function() {
+    debug('Error in websocket to ' + currentUrl);
+    AppActions.receiveError(currentUrl);
   };
 
   socket.onmessage = function(event) {
@@ -41,26 +54,51 @@ function createWebsocket(topologyUrl) {
 
 function getTopologies() {
   clearTimeout(topologyTimer);
-  reqwest('/api/topology', function(res) {
-    AppActions.receiveTopologies(res);
-    topologyTimer = setTimeout(getTopologies, 10000);
+  const url = '/api/topology';
+  reqwest({
+    url: url,
+    success: function(res) {
+      AppActions.receiveTopologies(res);
+      topologyTimer = setTimeout(getTopologies, topologyTimerInterval);
+    },
+    error: function(err) {
+      debug('Error in topology request: ' + err);
+      AppActions.receiveError(url);
+      topologyTimer = setTimeout(getTopologies, topologyTimerInterval / 2);
+    }
   });
 }
 
 function getNodeDetails(topologyUrl, nodeId) {
   if (topologyUrl && nodeId) {
     const url = [topologyUrl, nodeId].join('/');
-    reqwest(url, function(res) {
-      AppActions.receiveNodeDetails(res.node);
+    reqwest({
+      url: url,
+      success: function(res) {
+        AppActions.receiveNodeDetails(res.node);
+      },
+      error: function(err) {
+        debug('Error in node details request: ' + err);
+        AppActions.receiveError(topologyUrl);
+      }
     });
   }
 }
 
 function getApiDetails() {
   clearTimeout(apiDetailsTimer);
-  reqwest('/api', function(res) {
-    AppActions.receiveApiDetails(res);
-    apiDetailsTimer = setTimeout(getApiDetails, 10000);
+  const url = '/api';
+  reqwest({
+    url: url,
+    success: function(res) {
+      AppActions.receiveApiDetails(res);
+      apiDetailsTimer = setTimeout(getApiDetails, apiTimerInterval);
+    },
+    error: function(err) {
+      debug('Error in api details request: ' + err);
+      AppActions.receiveError(url);
+      apiDetailsTimer = setTimeout(getApiDetails, apiTimerInterval / 2);
+    }
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/client/webpack.config.js b/client/webpack.config.js
index 74c314fc3..a00fec98a 100644
--- a/client/webpack.config.js
+++ b/client/webpack.config.js
@@ -13,10 +13,6 @@ var DEBUG = !argv.release;
 var STYLE_LOADER = 'style-loader';
 var CSS_LOADER = DEBUG ? 'css-loader' : 'css-loader?minimize';
 var AUTOPREFIXER_LOADER = 'postcss-loader';
-var GLOBALS = {
-  'process.env.NODE_ENV': DEBUG ? '"development"' : '"production"',
-  '__DEV__': DEBUG
-};
 
 //
 // Common configuration chunk to be used for both