diff --git a/RNS/Interfaces/AX25KISSInterface.py b/RNS/Interfaces/AX25KISSInterface.py
index addd285..cb35ed0 100644
--- a/RNS/Interfaces/AX25KISSInterface.py
+++ b/RNS/Interfaces/AX25KISSInterface.py
@@ -301,7 +301,10 @@ class AX25KISSInterface(Interface):
         except Exception as e:
             self.online = False
             RNS.log("A serial port error occurred, the contained exception was: "+str(e), RNS.LOG_ERROR)
-            RNS.log("The interface "+str(self.name)+" is now offline. Restart Reticulum to attempt reconnection.", RNS.LOG_ERROR)
+            RNS.log("The interface "+str(self)+" experienced an unrecoverable error and is being torn down. Restart Reticulum to attempt to open this interface again.", RNS.LOG_ERROR)
+
+            if RNS.Reticulum.panic_on_interface_error:
+                RNS.panic()
 
     def __str__(self):
         return "AX25KISSInterface["+self.name+"]"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/RNS/Interfaces/KISSInterface.py b/RNS/Interfaces/KISSInterface.py
index a4c508c..635bc2c 100644
--- a/RNS/Interfaces/KISSInterface.py
+++ b/RNS/Interfaces/KISSInterface.py
@@ -277,7 +277,10 @@ class KISSInterface(Interface):
         except Exception as e:
             self.online = False
             RNS.log("A serial port error occurred, the contained exception was: "+str(e), RNS.LOG_ERROR)
-            RNS.log("The interface "+str(self.name)+" is now offline. Restart Reticulum to attempt reconnection.", RNS.LOG_ERROR)
+            RNS.log("The interface "+str(self)+" experienced an unrecoverable error and is being torn down. Restart Reticulum to attempt to open this interface again.", RNS.LOG_ERROR)
+
+            if RNS.Reticulum.panic_on_interface_error:
+                RNS.panic()
 
     def __str__(self):
         return "KISSInterface["+self.name+"]"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/RNS/Interfaces/LocalInterface.py b/RNS/Interfaces/LocalInterface.py
index c187f4f..f51a8ba 100644
--- a/RNS/Interfaces/LocalInterface.py
+++ b/RNS/Interfaces/LocalInterface.py
@@ -127,6 +127,10 @@ class LocalClientInterface(Interface):
         if self in RNS.Transport.local_client_interfaces:
             RNS.Transport.local_client_interfaces.remove(self)
 
+        RNS.log("The interface "+str(self)+" experienced an unrecoverable error and is being torn down. Restart Reticulum to attempt to open this interface again.", RNS.LOG_ERROR)
+        if RNS.Reticulum.panic_on_interface_error:
+            RNS.panic()
+
 
     def __str__(self):
         return "LocalInterface["+str(self.target_port)+"]"
diff --git a/RNS/Interfaces/RNodeInterface.py b/RNS/Interfaces/RNodeInterface.py
index 13be2b9..e99b24f 100644
--- a/RNS/Interfaces/RNodeInterface.py
+++ b/RNS/Interfaces/RNodeInterface.py
@@ -463,7 +463,10 @@ class RNodeInterface(Interface):
         except Exception as e:
             self.online = False
             RNS.log("A serial port error occurred, the contained exception was: "+str(e), RNS.LOG_ERROR)
-            RNS.log("The interface "+str(self.name)+" is now offline. Restart Reticulum to attempt reconnection.", RNS.LOG_ERROR)
+            RNS.log("The interface "+str(self)+" experienced an unrecoverable error and is being torn down. Restart Reticulum to attempt to open this interface again.", RNS.LOG_ERROR)
+
+            if RNS.Reticulum.panic_on_interface_error:
+                RNS.panic()
 
     def __str__(self):
         return "RNodeInterface["+self.name+"]"
diff --git a/RNS/Interfaces/SerialInterface.py b/RNS/Interfaces/SerialInterface.py
index d33ec12..a131153 100755
--- a/RNS/Interfaces/SerialInterface.py
+++ b/RNS/Interfaces/SerialInterface.py
@@ -130,7 +130,10 @@ class SerialInterface(Interface):
         except Exception as e:
             self.online = False
             RNS.log("A serial port error occurred, the contained exception was: "+str(e), RNS.LOG_ERROR)
-            RNS.log("The interface "+str(self.name)+" is now offline. Restart Reticulum to attempt reconnection.", RNS.LOG_ERROR)
+            RNS.log("The interface "+str(self)+" experienced an unrecoverable error and is being torn down. Restart Reticulum to attempt to open this interface again.", RNS.LOG_ERROR)
+
+            if RNS.Reticulum.panic_on_interface_error:
+                RNS.panic()
 
     def __str__(self):
         return "SerialInterface["+self.name+"]"
diff --git a/RNS/Interfaces/TCPInterface.py b/RNS/Interfaces/TCPInterface.py
index 0eefac0..bc33fcc 100644
--- a/RNS/Interfaces/TCPInterface.py
+++ b/RNS/Interfaces/TCPInterface.py
@@ -23,13 +23,21 @@ class ThreadingTCPServer(socketserver.ThreadingMixIn, socketserver.TCPServer):
     pass
 
 class TCPClientInterface(Interface):
+    RECONNECT_WAIT = 5
+    RECONNECT_MAX_TRIES = None
 
-    def __init__(self, owner, name, target_ip=None, target_port=None, connected_socket=None):
+    def __init__(self, owner, name, target_ip=None, target_port=None, connected_socket=None, max_reconnect_tries=None):
         self.IN               = True
         self.OUT              = False
         self.socket           = None
         self.parent_interface = None
         self.name             = name
+        self.initiator        = False
+
+        if max_reconnect_tries == None:
+            self.max_reconnect_tries = TCPClientInterface.RECONNECT_MAX_TRIES
+        else:
+            self.max_reconnect_tries = max_reconnect_tries
 
         if connected_socket != None:
             self.receives    = True
@@ -50,11 +58,43 @@ class TCPClientInterface(Interface):
         self.writing = False
 
         if connected_socket == None:
+            self.initiator = True
             thread = threading.Thread(target=self.read_loop)
             thread.setDaemon(True)
             thread.start()
             self.wants_tunnel = True
 
+    def reconnect(self):
+        if self.initiator:
+            attempts = 0
+            while not self.online:
+                attempts += 1
+
+                if self.max_reconnect_tries != None and attempts > self.max_reconnect_tries:
+                    RNS.log("Max reconnection attempts reached for "+str(self), RNS.LOG_ERROR)
+                    self.teardown()
+                    break
+
+                try:
+                    self.socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+                    self.socket.connect((self.target_ip, self.target_port))
+                    self.online  = True
+                    self.writing = False
+
+                    thread = threading.Thread(target=self.read_loop)
+                    thread.setDaemon(True)
+                    thread.start()
+                    RNS.Transport.synthesize_tunnel(self)
+
+                except Exception as e:
+                    RNS.log("Reconnection attempt for "+str(self)+" failed. The contained exception was: "+str(e), RNS.LOG_ERROR)
+
+                time.sleep(TCPClientInterface.RECONNECT_WAIT)
+
+        else:
+            RNS.log("Attempt to reconnect on a non-initiator TCP interface. This should not happen.", RNS.LOG_ERROR)
+            raise IOError("Attempt to reconnect on a non-initiator TCP interface")
+
     def processIncoming(self, data):
         self.owner.inbound(data, self)
 
@@ -105,24 +145,30 @@ class TCPClientInterface(Interface):
                                     escape = False
                                 data_buffer = data_buffer+bytes([byte])
                 else:
-                    RNS.log("TCP socket for "+str(self)+" was closed, tearing down interface", RNS.LOG_VERBOSE)
-                    self.teardown()
+                    RNS.log("TCP socket for "+str(self)+" was closed, attempting to reconnect...", RNS.LOG_WARNING)
+                    self.online = False
+                    if self.initiator:
+                        self.reconnect()
+
                     break
 
                 
         except Exception as e:
             self.online = False
             RNS.log("An interface error occurred, the contained exception was: "+str(e), RNS.LOG_ERROR)
-            RNS.log("Tearing down "+str(self), RNS.LOG_ERROR)
             self.teardown()
 
     def teardown(self):
+        RNS.log("The interface "+str(self)+" experienced an unrecoverable error and is being torn down. Restart Reticulum to attempt to open this interface again.", RNS.LOG_ERROR)
         self.online = False
         self.OUT = False
         self.IN = False
         if self in RNS.Transport.interfaces:
             RNS.Transport.interfaces.remove(self)
 
+        if RNS.Reticulum.panic_on_interface_error:
+            RNS.panic()
+
 
     def __str__(self):
         return "TCPInterface["+str(self.name)+"/"+str(self.target_ip)+":"+str(self.target_port)+"]"
diff --git a/RNS/Reticulum.py b/RNS/Reticulum.py
index da4173b..f79366e 100755
--- a/RNS/Reticulum.py
+++ b/RNS/Reticulum.py
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ class Reticulum:
         Reticulum.__transport_enabled = False
         Reticulum.__use_implicit_proof = True
 
+        Reticulum.panic_on_interface_error = False
+
         self.local_interface_port = 37428
         self.share_instance = True
 
@@ -195,6 +197,10 @@ class Reticulum:
                     v = self.config["reticulum"].as_bool(option)
                     if v == True:
                         Reticulum.__transport_enabled = True
+                if option == "panic_on_interface_error":
+                    v = self.config["reticulum"].as_bool(option)
+                    if v == True:
+                        Reticulum.panic_on_interface_error = True
                 if option == "use_implicit_proof":
                     v = self.config["reticulum"].as_bool(option)
                     if v == True:
@@ -510,6 +516,14 @@ share_instance = Yes
 
 shared_instance_port = 37428
 
+# You can configure Reticulum to panic and forcibly close
+# if an unrecoverable interface error occurs, such as the
+# hardware device for an interface disappearing. This is
+# an optional directive, and can be left out for brevity.
+# This behaviour is disabled by default.
+
+panic_on_interface_error = No
+
 
 [logging]
 # Valid log levels are 0 through 7: