diff --git a/damus/Nostr/RelayConnection.swift b/damus/Nostr/RelayConnection.swift
index 926e6415..b02ce592 100644
--- a/damus/Nostr/RelayConnection.swift
+++ b/damus/Nostr/RelayConnection.swift
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ public struct RelayURL: Hashable {
 final class RelayConnection: ObservableObject {
     @Published private(set) var isConnected = false
     @Published private(set) var isConnecting = false
+    private var isDisabled = false
     
     private(set) var last_connection_attempt: TimeInterval = 0
     private(set) var last_pong: Date? = nil
@@ -57,7 +58,11 @@ final class RelayConnection: ObservableObject {
     }
     
     func ping() {
-        socket.ping { err in
+        socket.ping { [weak self] err in
+            guard let self else {
+                return
+            }
+            
             if err == nil {
                 self.last_pong = .now
                 self.log?.add("Successful ping")
@@ -103,6 +108,10 @@ final class RelayConnection: ObservableObject {
         isConnecting = false
     }
     
+    func disablePermanently() {
+        isDisabled = true
+    }
+    
     func send_raw(_ req: String) {
         socket.send(.string(req))
     }
@@ -168,8 +177,8 @@ final class RelayConnection: ObservableObject {
     }
     
     func reconnect() {
-        guard !isConnecting else {
-            return  // we're already trying to connect
+        guard !isConnecting && !isDisabled else {
+            return  // we're already trying to connect or we're disabled
         }
         disconnect()
         connect()
diff --git a/damus/Nostr/RelayPool.swift b/damus/Nostr/RelayPool.swift
index f697f791..59d98439 100644
--- a/damus/Nostr/RelayPool.swift
+++ b/damus/Nostr/RelayPool.swift
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ class RelayPool {
         
         for relay in relays {
             if relay.id == relay_id {
+                relay.connection.disablePermanently()
                 relays.remove(at: i)
                 break
             }