diff --git a/plexpy/__init__.py b/plexpy/__init__.py
index ef5fa871..202687c2 100644
--- a/plexpy/__init__.py
+++ b/plexpy/__init__.py
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ COMMITS_BEHIND = None
 
 UMASK = None
 
+POLLING_FAILOVER = False
 
 def initialize(config_file):
     with INIT_LOCK:
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ def initialize(config_file):
         global CURRENT_VERSION
         global LATEST_VERSION
         global UMASK
+        global POLLING_FAILOVER
 
         CONFIG = plexpy.config.Config(config_file)
 
@@ -281,7 +283,7 @@ def initialize_scheduler():
             schedule_job(plextv.get_real_pms_url, 'Refresh Plex Server URLs', hours=12, minutes=0, seconds=0)
 
             # If we're not using websockets then fall back to polling
-            if not CONFIG.MONITORING_USE_WEBSOCKET:
+            if not CONFIG.MONITORING_USE_WEBSOCKET or POLLING_FAILOVER:
                 schedule_job(monitor.check_active_sessions, 'Check for active sessions',
                              hours=0, minutes=0, seconds=seconds)
 
diff --git a/plexpy/web_socket.py b/plexpy/web_socket.py
index b696a4fa..f8ee16bd 100644
--- a/plexpy/web_socket.py
+++ b/plexpy/web_socket.py
@@ -43,12 +43,23 @@ def run():
     if plexpy.CONFIG.PMS_TOKEN:
         uri += '?X-Plex-Token=' + plexpy.CONFIG.PMS_TOKEN
 
-    ws = create_connection(uri)
-
+    ws_connected = False
     reconnects = 0
-    logger.debug(u'PlexPy WebSocket :: Ready')
 
-    while True:
+    # Try an open the websocket connection - if it fails after 5 retries fallback to polling
+    while not ws_connected and reconnects < 5:
+        try:
+            logger.info(u'PlexPy WebSocket :: Opening websocket, connection attempt %s.' % str(reconnects + 1))
+            ws = create_connection(uri)
+            reconnects = 0
+            ws_connected = True
+            logger.debug(u'PlexPy WebSocket :: Ready')
+        except IOError, e:
+            logger.info(u'PlexPy WebSocket :: %s.' % e)
+            reconnects += 1
+            time.sleep(5)
+
+    while ws_connected:
         try:
             process(*receive(ws))
 
@@ -63,11 +74,20 @@ def run():
                     time.sleep(2 * (reconnects - 1))
 
                 logger.info(u'PlexPy WebSocket :: Connection has closed, reconnecting...')
-                ws = create_connection(uri)
+                try:
+                    ws = create_connection(uri)
+                except IOError, e:
+                    logger.info(u'PlexPy WebSocket :: %s.' % e)
+
             else:
-                logger.error(u'PlexPy WebSocket :: Connection unavailable, activity monitoring not available')
+                ws_connected = False
                 break
 
+    if not ws_connected:
+        logger.error(u'PlexPy WebSocket :: Connection unavailable, falling back to polling.')
+        plexpy.POLLING_FAILOVER = True
+        plexpy.initialize_scheduler()
+
     logger.debug(u'Leaving thread.')