diff --git a/cmd/synergy/synergy.cpp b/cmd/synergy/synergy.cpp
index 65256702..06d0481c 100644
--- a/cmd/synergy/synergy.cpp
+++ b/cmd/synergy/synergy.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "CPlatform.h"
 #include "ProtocolTypes.h"
 #include "Version.h"
+#include "XScreen.h"
 #include "CNetwork.h"
 #include "CNetworkAddress.h"
 #include "CTCPSocketFactory.h"
@@ -125,7 +126,8 @@ realMain(CMutex* mutex)
 				s_client->setStreamFilterFactory(NULL);
 
 				// open client
-				if (s_client->open()) {
+				try {
+					s_client->open();
 					opened = true;
 
 					// run client
@@ -139,31 +141,33 @@ realMain(CMutex* mutex)
 						mutex->lock();
 					}
 
-					// get client status
-					if (s_client->wasRejected()) {
-						// wait a while before retrying.  we don't want
-						// to bother the server very often if it doesn't
-						// want us.
-						if (s_restartable) {
-							CThread::sleep(60.0);
-						}
-						else {
-							result = kExitFailed;
-						}
-					}
-
 					// clean up
 					s_client->close();
+
+					// get client status
+					if (s_client->wasRejected()) {
+						// try again later.  we don't want to bother
+						// the server very often if it doesn't want us.
+						throw XScreenUnavailable(60.0);
+					}
 				}
-				else {
+				catch (XScreenUnavailable& e) {
 					// wait a few seconds before retrying
 					if (s_restartable) {
-						CThread::sleep(3.0);
+						CThread::sleep(e.getRetryTime());
 					}
 					else {
 						result = kExitFailed;
 					}
 				}
+				catch (...) {
+					// rethrow thread exceptions
+					RETHROW_XTHREAD
+
+					// don't try to restart and fail
+					s_restartable = false;
+					result        = kExitFailed;
+				}
 
 				// clean up
 				delete s_client;
diff --git a/cmd/synergyd/synergyd.cpp b/cmd/synergyd/synergyd.cpp
index 2db390a3..60d070c4 100644
--- a/cmd/synergyd/synergyd.cpp
+++ b/cmd/synergyd/synergyd.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "CPlatform.h"
 #include "ProtocolTypes.h"
 #include "Version.h"
+#include "XScreen.h"
 #include "CNetwork.h"
 #include "CTCPSocketFactory.h"
 #include "XSocket.h"
@@ -156,7 +157,8 @@ realMain(CMutex* mutex)
 				s_server->setStreamFilterFactory(NULL);
 
 				// open server
-				if (s_server->open()) {
+				try {
+					s_server->open();
 					opened = true;
 
 					// run server (unlocked)
@@ -173,15 +175,23 @@ realMain(CMutex* mutex)
 					// clean up
 					s_server->close();
 				}
-				else {
-					// wait a few seconds before retrying
+				catch (XScreenUnavailable& e) {
+					// wait before retrying if we're going to retry
 					if (s_restartable) {
-						CThread::sleep(3.0);
+						CThread::sleep(e.getRetryTime());
 					}
 					else {
 						result = kExitFailed;
 					}
 				}
+				catch (...) {
+					// rethrow thread exceptions
+					RETHROW_XTHREAD
+
+					// don't try to restart and fail
+					s_restartable = false;
+					result        = kExitFailed;
+				}
 
 				// clean up
 				delete s_server;
diff --git a/lib/client/CClient.cpp b/lib/client/CClient.cpp
index 6a70c2f8..bb3a8b98 100644
--- a/lib/client/CClient.cpp
+++ b/lib/client/CClient.cpp
@@ -149,19 +149,18 @@ CClient::onClipboardChanged(ClipboardID, const CString&)
 	// ignore -- we'll check the clipboard when we leave
 }
 
-bool
+void
 CClient::open()
 {
 	// open the screen
 	try {
 		log((CLOG_INFO "opening screen"));
 		openSecondaryScreen();
-		return true;
 	}
 	catch (XScreenOpenFailure&) {
-		// can't open screen yet.  wait a few seconds to retry.
+		// can't open screen
 		log((CLOG_INFO "failed to open screen"));
-		return false;
+		throw;
 	}
 }
 
@@ -368,7 +367,6 @@ void
 CClient::openSecondaryScreen()
 {
 	assert(m_screen == NULL);
-	assert(m_screenFactory != NULL);
 
 	// not active
 	m_active = false;
@@ -381,7 +379,9 @@ CClient::openSecondaryScreen()
 
 	// create screen
 	log((CLOG_DEBUG1 "creating secondary screen"));
-	m_screen = m_screenFactory->create(this);
+	if (m_screenFactory != NULL) {
+		m_screen = m_screenFactory->create(this);
+	}
 	if (m_screen == NULL) {
 		throw XScreenOpenFailure();
 	}
@@ -402,12 +402,12 @@ CClient::openSecondaryScreen()
 void
 CClient::closeSecondaryScreen()
 {
-	assert(m_screen != NULL);
-
 	// close the secondary screen
 	try {
-		log((CLOG_DEBUG1 "closing secondary screen"));
-		m_screen->close();
+		if (m_screen != NULL) {
+			log((CLOG_DEBUG1 "closing secondary screen"));
+			m_screen->close();
+		}
 	}
 	catch (...) {
 		// ignore
diff --git a/lib/client/CClient.h b/lib/client/CClient.h
index 3cfb4543..61f0fe2b 100644
--- a/lib/client/CClient.h
+++ b/lib/client/CClient.h
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ public:
 	virtual void		onClipboardChanged(ClipboardID, const CString&);
 
 	// IClient overrides
-	virtual bool		open();
+	virtual void		open();
 	virtual void		mainLoop();
 	virtual void		close();
 	virtual void		enter(SInt32 xAbs, SInt32 yAbs,
diff --git a/lib/client/CXWindowsSecondaryScreen.cpp b/lib/client/CXWindowsSecondaryScreen.cpp
index 4c921927..7c1f55a3 100644
--- a/lib/client/CXWindowsSecondaryScreen.cpp
+++ b/lib/client/CXWindowsSecondaryScreen.cpp
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ CXWindowsSecondaryScreen::createWindow()
 		int majorOpcode, firstEvent, firstError;
 		if (!XQueryExtension(display, XTestExtensionName,
 								&majorOpcode, &firstEvent, &firstError)) {
-			// FIXME -- subclass exception for more info?
+			log((CLOG_ERR "XTEST extension not available"));
 			throw XScreenOpenFailure();
 		}
 
diff --git a/lib/platform/CXWindowsScreen.cpp b/lib/platform/CXWindowsScreen.cpp
index e5e2fd8f..0b908981 100644
--- a/lib/platform/CXWindowsScreen.cpp
+++ b/lib/platform/CXWindowsScreen.cpp
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ CXWindowsScreen::open()
 	log((CLOG_DEBUG "XOpenDisplay(\"%s\")", display));
 	m_display = XOpenDisplay(display);
 	if (m_display == NULL) {
-		throw XScreenOpenFailure();
+		throw XScreenUnavailable(60.0);
 	}
 
 	// get root window
diff --git a/lib/server/CClientProxy.h b/lib/server/CClientProxy.h
index 83cb3e14..46c47953 100644
--- a/lib/server/CClientProxy.h
+++ b/lib/server/CClientProxy.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public:
 	//@}
 
 	// IClient overrides
-	virtual bool		open() = 0;
+	virtual void		open() = 0;
 	virtual void		mainLoop() = 0;
 	virtual void		close() = 0;
 	virtual void		enter(SInt32 xAbs, SInt32 yAbs,
diff --git a/lib/server/CClientProxy1_0.cpp b/lib/server/CClientProxy1_0.cpp
index ad0d45f1..eb76b3cc 100644
--- a/lib/server/CClientProxy1_0.cpp
+++ b/lib/server/CClientProxy1_0.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ CClientProxy1_0::~CClientProxy1_0()
 	// do nothing
 }
 
-bool
+void
 CClientProxy1_0::open()
 {
 	// send request
@@ -55,8 +55,6 @@ CClientProxy1_0::open()
 
 	// handle reply
 	recvInfo(false);
-
-	return true;
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/lib/server/CClientProxy1_0.h b/lib/server/CClientProxy1_0.h
index befb480c..01522865 100644
--- a/lib/server/CClientProxy1_0.h
+++ b/lib/server/CClientProxy1_0.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ public:
 	~CClientProxy1_0();
 
 	// IClient overrides
-	virtual bool		open();
+	virtual void		open();
 	virtual void		mainLoop();
 	virtual void		close();
 	virtual void		enter(SInt32 xAbs, SInt32 yAbs,
diff --git a/lib/server/CMSWindowsPrimaryScreen.cpp b/lib/server/CMSWindowsPrimaryScreen.cpp
index 3b257840..4b909412 100644
--- a/lib/server/CMSWindowsPrimaryScreen.cpp
+++ b/lib/server/CMSWindowsPrimaryScreen.cpp
@@ -399,6 +399,7 @@ CMSWindowsPrimaryScreen::onPreOpen()
 	// initialize hook library
 	m_threadID = GetCurrentThreadId();
 	if (m_init(m_threadID) == 0) {
+		log((CLOG_ERR "cannot initialize hook library"));
 		throw XScreenOpenFailure();
 	}
 }
diff --git a/lib/server/CPrimaryClient.cpp b/lib/server/CPrimaryClient.cpp
index 44f01109..638c37c4 100644
--- a/lib/server/CPrimaryClient.cpp
+++ b/lib/server/CPrimaryClient.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "CPrimaryClient.h"
 #include "IPrimaryScreenFactory.h"
 #include "IServer.h"
+#include "XScreen.h"
 #include "XSynergy.h"
 #include "CPrimaryScreen.h"
 #include "CClipboard.h"
@@ -19,11 +20,15 @@ CPrimaryClient::CPrimaryClient(IPrimaryScreenFactory* screenFactory,
 	m_seqNum(0)
 {
 	assert(m_server != NULL);
-	assert(screenFactory != NULL);
 
 	// create screen
 	log((CLOG_DEBUG1 "creating primary screen"));
-	m_screen = screenFactory->create(this, receiver);
+	if (screenFactory != NULL) {
+		m_screen = screenFactory->create(this, receiver);
+	}
+	if (m_screen == NULL) {
+		throw XScreenOpenFailure();
+	}
 }
 
 CPrimaryClient::~CPrimaryClient()
@@ -100,7 +105,7 @@ CPrimaryClient::onClipboardChanged(ClipboardID id, const CString& data)
 	m_server->onClipboardChanged(id, m_seqNum, data);
 }
 
-bool
+void
 CPrimaryClient::open()
 {
 	// all clipboards are clean
@@ -110,8 +115,6 @@ CPrimaryClient::open()
 
 	// now open the screen
 	m_screen->open();
-
-	return true;
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/lib/server/CPrimaryClient.h b/lib/server/CPrimaryClient.h
index 84ea0bad..0c98e956 100644
--- a/lib/server/CPrimaryClient.h
+++ b/lib/server/CPrimaryClient.h
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@ treated as if it was on a client.
 class CPrimaryClient : public IScreenReceiver, public IClient {
 public:
 	/*!
-	\c name is the name of the server.  the caller retains ownership of
-	\c factory.
+	\c name is the name of the server.  The caller retains ownership of
+	\c factory.  Throws XScreenOpenFailure or whatever the factory can
+	throw if the screen cannot be created.
 	*/
 	CPrimaryClient(IPrimaryScreenFactory* factory, IServer*,
 							IPrimaryScreenReceiver*, const CString& name);
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ public:
 	virtual void		onClipboardChanged(ClipboardID, const CString&);
 
 	// IClient overrides
-	virtual bool		open();
+	virtual void		open();
 	virtual void		mainLoop();
 	virtual void		close();
 	virtual void		enter(SInt32 xAbs, SInt32 yAbs,
diff --git a/lib/server/CServer.cpp b/lib/server/CServer.cpp
index 822bac97..0b0bc327 100644
--- a/lib/server/CServer.cpp
+++ b/lib/server/CServer.cpp
@@ -53,24 +53,23 @@ CServer::~CServer()
 	delete m_streamFilterFactory;
 }
 
-bool
+void
 CServer::open()
 {
 	// open the screen
 	try {
 		log((CLOG_INFO "opening screen"));
 		openPrimaryScreen();
-		return true;
 	}
-	catch (XScreenOpenFailure&) {
-		// can't open screen yet.  wait a few seconds to retry.
+	catch (XScreen&) {
+		// can't open screen
 		log((CLOG_INFO "failed to open screen"));
-		return false;
+		throw;
 	}
 	catch (XUnknownClient& e) {
-		// can't open screen yet.  wait a few seconds to retry.
+		// can't open screen
 		log((CLOG_CRIT "unknown screen name `%s'", e.getName().c_str()));
-		return false;
+		throw;
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1529,7 +1528,6 @@ void
 CServer::openPrimaryScreen()
 {
 	assert(m_primaryClient == NULL);
-	assert(m_screenFactory != NULL);
 
 	// reset sequence number
 	m_seqNum = 0;
diff --git a/lib/server/CServer.h b/lib/server/CServer.h
index a119fa6a..494da9ae 100644
--- a/lib/server/CServer.h
+++ b/lib/server/CServer.h
@@ -39,9 +39,12 @@ public:
 
 	//! Open server
 	/*!
-	Open the server and return true iff successful.
+	Open the server.  Throws XScreenUnavailable if the server's
+	screen cannot be opened but might be available after some time.
+	Otherwise throws some other exception if the server's screen or
+	the server cannot be opened and retrying won't help.
 	*/
-	bool				open();
+	void				open();
 
 	//! Server main loop
 	/*!
diff --git a/lib/synergy/IClient.h b/lib/synergy/IClient.h
index 01027abb..12c534d1 100644
--- a/lib/synergy/IClient.h
+++ b/lib/synergy/IClient.h
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@ public:
 
 	//! Open client
 	/*!
-	Open the client and return true iff successful.
+	Open the client.  Throw if the client cannot be opened.  If the
+	screen cannot be opened but retrying later may succeed then throw
+	XScreenUnavailable.
 	*/
-	virtual bool		open() = 0;
+	virtual void		open() = 0;
 
 	//! Client main loop
 	/*!
diff --git a/lib/synergy/IScreen.h b/lib/synergy/IScreen.h
index b60f56d6..48417984 100644
--- a/lib/synergy/IScreen.h
+++ b/lib/synergy/IScreen.h
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ public:
 
 	//! Open screen
 	/*!
-	Called to open and initialize the screen.
+	Called to open and initialize the screen.  Throw XScreenUnavailable
+	if the screen cannot be opened but retrying later may succeed.
+	Otherwise throw some other XScreenOpenFailure exception.
 	*/
 	virtual void		open() = 0;
 
diff --git a/lib/synergy/XScreen.cpp b/lib/synergy/XScreen.cpp
index b011b131..63684f5d 100644
--- a/lib/synergy/XScreen.cpp
+++ b/lib/synergy/XScreen.cpp
@@ -9,3 +9,31 @@ XScreenOpenFailure::getWhat() const throw()
 {
 	return format("XScreenOpenFailure", "unable to open screen");
 }
+
+
+//
+// XScreenUnavailable
+//
+
+XScreenUnavailable::XScreenUnavailable(double timeUntilRetry) :
+	m_timeUntilRetry(timeUntilRetry)
+{
+	// do nothing
+}
+
+XScreenUnavailable::~XScreenUnavailable()
+{
+	// do nothing
+}
+
+double
+XScreenUnavailable::getRetryTime() const
+{
+	return m_timeUntilRetry;
+}
+
+CString
+XScreenUnavailable::getWhat() const throw()
+{
+	return format("XScreenUnavailable", "unable to open screen");
+}
diff --git a/lib/synergy/XScreen.h b/lib/synergy/XScreen.h
index 2b71402a..b69fd61a 100644
--- a/lib/synergy/XScreen.h
+++ b/lib/synergy/XScreen.h
@@ -15,4 +15,36 @@ protected:
 	virtual CString		getWhat() const throw();
 };
 
+//! Screen unavailable exception
+/*!
+Thrown when a screen cannot be opened or initialized but retrying later
+may be successful.
+*/
+class XScreenUnavailable : public XScreenOpenFailure {
+public:
+	/*!
+	\c timeUntilRetry is the suggested time the caller should wait until
+	trying to open the screen again.
+	*/
+	XScreenUnavailable(double timeUntilRetry);
+	virtual ~XScreenUnavailable();
+
+	//! @name manipulators
+	//@{
+
+	//! Get retry time
+	/*!
+	Returns the suggested time to wait until retrying to open the screen.
+	*/
+	double				getRetryTime() const;
+
+	//@}
+
+protected:
+	virtual CString		getWhat() const throw();
+
+private:
+	double				m_timeUntilRetry;
+};
+
 #endif