diff --git a/pkg/urbit/vere/io/ames.c b/pkg/urbit/vere/io/ames.c
index a3783cf54..81f5635fc 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/vere/io/ames.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/vere/io/ames.c
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
     time_t           imp_t[256];        //  imperial IP timestamps
     c3_o             imp_o[256];        //  imperial print status
     c3_o             see_o;             //  can scry
+    c3_d             saw_d;             //  successive scry failures
     c3_o             fit_o;             //  filtering active
     c3_y             ver_y;             //  protocol version
     c3_d             vet_d;             //  version mismatches filtered
@@ -655,24 +656,31 @@ _ames_lane_scry_cb(void* vod_p, u3_noun nun)
   //  if scry fails, remember we can't scry, and just inject the packet
   //
   if (u3_none == las) {
-    u3l_log("ames: giving up scry\n");
-    pac_u->sam_u->see_o = c3n;
+    if (5 < ++pac_u->sam_u->saw_d) {
+      u3l_log("ames: giving up scry\n");
+      pac_u->sam_u->see_o = c3n;
+    }
     _ames_put_packet(pac_u->sam_u,
                      _ames_serialize_packet(pac_u, c3n),
                      pac_u->ore_u);
     pac_u->sam_u->foq_d--;
     _ames_panc_free(pac_u);
   }
-  //  if there is no lane, drop the packet
-  //
-  else if (u3_nul == las) {
-    pac_u->sam_u->foq_d--;
-    _ames_panc_free(pac_u);
-  }
-  //  if there is a lane, forward the packet on it
-  //
   else {
-    _ames_forward(pac_u, u3k(las));
+    if (0 < pac_u->sam_u->saw_d) {
+      pac_u->sam_u->saw_d--;
+    }
+    //  if there is no lane, drop the packet
+    //
+    if (u3_nul == las) {
+      pac_u->sam_u->foq_d--;
+      _ames_panc_free(pac_u);
+    }
+    //  if there is a lane, forward the packet on it
+    //
+    else {
+      _ames_forward(pac_u, u3k(las));
+    }
   }
 
   u3z(nun);