diff --git a/lix/libstore/remote-store.cc b/lix/libstore/remote-store.cc
index b52d469d0..9783bbf3f 100644
--- a/lix/libstore/remote-store.cc
+++ b/lix/libstore/remote-store.cc
@@ -56,29 +56,15 @@ RemoteStore::RemoteStore(const RemoteStoreConfig & config)
 
 
 kj::Promise<Result<ref<RemoteStore::Connection>>> RemoteStore::openConnectionWrapper()
-try {
-    if (failed)
-        throw Error("opening a connection to remote store '%s' previously failed", getUri());
-    try {
-        co_return TRY_AWAIT(openConnection());
-    } catch (...) {
-        failed = true;
-        throw;
-    }
-} catch (...) {
-    co_return result::current_exception();
+{
+    return openConnection();
 }
 
 kj::Promise<Result<ref<RemoteStore::Connection>>> RemoteStore::openAndInitConnection()
 try {
     auto conn = TRY_AWAIT(openConnection());
-    try {
-        TRY_AWAIT(initConnection(*conn));
-        co_return conn;
-    } catch (...) {
-        failed = true;
-        throw;
-    }
+    TRY_AWAIT(initConnection(*conn));
+    co_return conn;
 } catch (...) {
     co_return result::current_exception();
 }
diff --git a/lix/libstore/remote-store.hh b/lix/libstore/remote-store.hh
index 8353efb08..367f05145 100644
--- a/lix/libstore/remote-store.hh
+++ b/lix/libstore/remote-store.hh
@@ -206,9 +206,6 @@ protected:
     narFromPath(const StorePath & path, const Activity * context) override;
 
 private:
-
-    std::atomic_bool failed{false};
-
     kj::Promise<Result<void>> copyDrvsFromEvalStore(
         const std::vector<DerivedPath> & paths,
         std::shared_ptr<Store> evalStore);