diff --git a/src/client.ts b/src/client.ts
index bc9548ce..3a8ac614 100644
--- a/src/client.ts
+++ b/src/client.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,16 @@ export interface ClientOptions {
    * @default true
    */
   lazy?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * How many times should the client try to reconnect on socket closure before it errors out?
+   * @default 3
+   */
+  retryAttempts?: number;
+  /**
+   * How long should the client wait until attempting to retry connecting.
+   * @default 3 * 1000 (3 seconds)
+   */
+  retryTimeout?: number;
 }
 
 export interface Client extends Disposable {
@@ -43,7 +53,13 @@ export interface Client extends Disposable {
 
 /** Creates a disposable GQL subscriptions client. */
 export function createClient(options: ClientOptions): Client {
-  const { url, connectionParams, lazy = true } = options;
+  const {
+    url,
+    connectionParams,
+    lazy = true,
+    retryAttempts = 3,
+    retryTimeout = 3 * 1000, // 3 seconds
+  } = options;
 
   let state = {
     socket: null as WebSocket | null,
@@ -248,16 +264,34 @@ export function createClient(options: ClientOptions): Client {
   // in non-lazy mode always hold one connection lock to persist the socket
   if (!lazy) {
     (async () => {
-      try {
-        const [, throwOrCancel] = await connect({ current: null });
-        await throwOrCancel(); // either the canceller will be called or the socket closed
-      } catch (errOrCloseEvent) {
-        // normal closure is disposal, shouldnt throw
-        if (isCloseEvent(errOrCloseEvent) && errOrCloseEvent.code === 1000) {
-          return;
-        }
+      // will break or throw eventually
+      let retries = 0;
+      for (;;) {
+        try {
+          const [, throwOrCancel] = await connect({ current: null });
+          retries = 0; // reset retry counter on successful connect
+          await throwOrCancel(); // either the canceller will be called or the socket closed
+          break; // break the loop on cancel
+        } catch (errOrCloseEvent) {
+          // throw non `CloseEvent`s immediately, something else is wrong
+          if (!isCloseEvent(errOrCloseEvent)) {
+            throw errOrCloseEvent;
+          }
+
+          // normal closure is disposal, shouldnt try again
+          if (errOrCloseEvent.code === 1000) {
+            break;
+          }
 
-        throw errOrCloseEvent;
+          // retries expired, throw
+          if (retries >= retryAttempts) {
+            throw errOrCloseEvent;
+          }
+
+          // wait a bit and retry
+          await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, retryTimeout));
+          retries++;
+        }
       }
     })();
   }
@@ -293,49 +327,64 @@ export function createClient(options: ClientOptions): Client {
 
       const cancellerRef: CancellerRef = { current: null };
       (async () => {
-        try {
-          const [socket, throwOrCancel] = await connect(cancellerRef);
-          socket.addEventListener('message', messageHandler);
-
-          socket.send(
-            stringifyMessage<MessageType.Subscribe>({
-              id: uuid,
-              type: MessageType.Subscribe,
-              payload,
-            }),
-          );
+        // will break or throw eventually
+        let retries = 0;
+        for (;;) {
+          try {
+            const [socket, throwOrCancel] = await connect(cancellerRef);
+            retries = 0; // reset retry counter on successful connect
+            socket.addEventListener('message', messageHandler);
+
+            socket.send(
+              stringifyMessage<MessageType.Subscribe>({
+                id: uuid,
+                type: MessageType.Subscribe,
+                payload,
+              }),
+            );
 
-          // either the canceller will be called and the promise resolved
-          // or the socket closed and the promise rejected
-          await throwOrCancel();
+            // either the canceller will be called and the promise resolved
+            // or the socket closed and the promise rejected
+            await throwOrCancel();
 
-          // TODO-db-200909 wont be removed on throw, but should it? the socket is closed on throw
-          socket.removeEventListener('message', messageHandler);
+            // TODO-db-200909 wont be removed on throw, but should it? the socket is closed on throw
+            socket.removeEventListener('message', messageHandler);
 
-          // send complete message to server
-          socket.send(
-            stringifyMessage<MessageType.Complete>({
-              id: uuid,
-              type: MessageType.Complete,
-            }),
-          );
-        } catch (errOrCloseEvent) {
-          // throw non `CloseEvent`s immediately, something else is wrong
-          if (!isCloseEvent(errOrCloseEvent)) {
-            throw errOrCloseEvent;
-          }
+            // send complete message to server
+            socket.send(
+              stringifyMessage<MessageType.Complete>({
+                id: uuid,
+                type: MessageType.Complete,
+              }),
+            );
 
-          // normal closure is disposal, shouldnt try again
-          if (errOrCloseEvent.code === 1000) {
-            return;
-          }
+            // and break the loop
+            break;
+          } catch (errOrCloseEvent) {
+            // throw non `CloseEvent`s immediately, something else is wrong
+            if (!isCloseEvent(errOrCloseEvent)) {
+              throw errOrCloseEvent;
+            }
 
-          // user cancelled early, shouldnt try again
-          if (errOrCloseEvent.code === 3499) {
-            return;
-          }
+            // normal closure is disposal, shouldnt try again
+            if (errOrCloseEvent.code === 1000) {
+              break;
+            }
 
-          throw errOrCloseEvent;
+            // user cancelled early, shouldnt try again
+            if (errOrCloseEvent.code === 3499) {
+              break;
+            }
+
+            // retries expired, throw
+            if (retries >= retryAttempts) {
+              throw errOrCloseEvent;
+            }
+
+            // wait a bit and retry
+            await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, retryTimeout));
+            retries++;
+          }
         }
       })()
         .catch(sink.error)