diff --git a/rhizome_sync.c b/rhizome_sync.c
index 30d77b3a..89461208 100644
--- a/rhizome_sync.c
+++ b/rhizome_sync.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301, USA.
 #define MSG_TYPE_BARS 0
 #define MSG_TYPE_REQ 1
 
+#define MAX_TRIES 10
 #define CACHE_BARS 60
 #define MAX_OLD_BARS 40
 #define BARS_PER_RESPONSE ((int)400/RHIZOME_BAR_BYTES)
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301, USA.
 struct bar_entry
 {
   unsigned char bar[RHIZOME_BAR_BYTES];
+  unsigned tries;
   time_ms_t next_request;
 };
 
@@ -47,7 +49,8 @@ struct rhizome_sync
   uint64_t sync_end;
   uint64_t highest_seen;
   unsigned char sync_complete;
-  uint64_t bars_seen;
+  uint32_t bars_seen;
+  uint32_t bars_skipped;
   time_ms_t start_time;
   time_ms_t completed;
   time_ms_t next_request;
@@ -65,12 +68,13 @@ void rhizome_sync_status_html(struct strbuf *b, struct subscriber *subscriber)
   if (!subscriber->sync_state)
     return;
   struct rhizome_sync *state=subscriber->sync_state;
-  strbuf_sprintf(b, "Seen %"PRId64" BARs [%"PRId64" to %"PRId64" of %"PRId64"], %d interesting<br>",
+  strbuf_sprintf(b, "Seen %u BARs [%"PRId64" to %"PRId64" of %"PRId64"], %d interesting, %d skipped<br>",
     state->bars_seen,
     state->sync_start,
     state->sync_end,
     state->highest_seen,
-    state->bar_count);
+    state->bar_count,
+    state->bars_skipped);
 }
 
 static void rhizome_sync_request(struct subscriber *subscriber, uint64_t token, unsigned char forwards)
@@ -107,7 +111,7 @@ static void rhizome_sync_send_requests(struct subscriber *subscriber, struct rhi
   bzero(&header, sizeof header);
   struct overlay_buffer *payload = NULL;
   
-  for (i=0;i < state->bar_count;i++){
+  for (i=state->bar_count -1;i>=0;i--){
     if (state->bars[i].next_request > now)
       continue;
 
@@ -124,8 +128,10 @@ static void rhizome_sync_send_requests(struct subscriber *subscriber, struct rhi
     uint64_t version = rhizome_bar_version(state->bars[i].bar);
     // are we already fetching this bundle [or later]?
     rhizome_manifest *m=rhizome_fetch_search(prefix, RHIZOME_BAR_PREFIX_BYTES);
-    if (m && m->version >= version)
+    if (m && m->version >= version){
+      state->bars[i].next_request = now+5000;
       continue;
+    }
 
     if (!payload){
       header.source = my_subscriber;
@@ -145,7 +151,18 @@ static void rhizome_sync_send_requests(struct subscriber *subscriber, struct rhi
       
     ob_append_bytes(payload, state->bars[i].bar, RHIZOME_BAR_BYTES);
     
+    state->bars[i].tries--;
     state->bars[i].next_request = now+5000;
+    if (!state->bars[i].tries){
+      // remove this BAR and shift the last BAR down to this position if required.
+      if (config.debug.rhizome)
+        DEBUGF("Giving up on fetching BAR %s", alloca_tohex(state->bars[i].bar, RHIZOME_BAR_BYTES));
+      state->bar_count --;
+      if (i<state->bar_count)
+        state->bars[i] = state->bars[state->bar_count];
+      state->bars_skipped++;
+    }
+    
     requests++;
     if (requests>=BARS_PER_RESPONSE)
       break;
@@ -197,9 +214,8 @@ static int sync_bundle_inserted(struct subscriber *subscriber, void *context)
       if (config.debug.rhizome)
         DEBUGF("Removing BAR %s from queue", alloca_tohex(this_bar, RHIZOME_BAR_BYTES));
       state->bar_count --;
-      if (i<state->bar_count){
+      if (i<state->bar_count)
         state->bars[i] = state->bars[state->bar_count];
-      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -221,6 +237,7 @@ static int sync_cache_bar(struct rhizome_sync *state, unsigned char *bar, uint64
   if (token!=0 && rhizome_is_bar_interesting(bar)!=0){
     bcopy(bar, state->bars[state->bar_count].bar, RHIZOME_BAR_BYTES);
     state->bars[state->bar_count].next_request = gettime_ms();
+    state->bars[state->bar_count].tries = MAX_TRIES;
     state->bar_count++;
     ret=1;
   }