diff --git a/src/client/bridge/gateway/shard_manager.rs b/src/client/bridge/gateway/shard_manager.rs
index fbfd2f62160..99cdec783a7 100644
--- a/src/client/bridge/gateway/shard_manager.rs
+++ b/src/client/bridge/gateway/shard_manager.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use internal::prelude::*;
 use parking_lot::Mutex;
-use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::collections::{HashMap, VecDeque};
 use std::sync::mpsc::{self, Sender};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::thread;
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ impl ShardManager {
             framework: Arc::clone(&framework),
             last_start: None,
             manager_tx: thread_tx.clone(),
+            queue: VecDeque::new(),
             runners: Arc::clone(&runners),
             rx: shard_queue_rx,
             token: Arc::clone(&token),
@@ -184,6 +185,7 @@ impl ShardManager {
             event_handler: Arc::clone(&event_handler),
             last_start: None,
             manager_tx: thread_tx.clone(),
+            queue: VecDeque::new(),
             runners: Arc::clone(&runners),
             rx: shard_queue_rx,
             token: Arc::clone(&token),
diff --git a/src/client/bridge/gateway/shard_queuer.rs b/src/client/bridge/gateway/shard_queuer.rs
index bd02532eafd..30a09064e50 100644
--- a/src/client/bridge/gateway/shard_queuer.rs
+++ b/src/client/bridge/gateway/shard_queuer.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 use gateway::Shard;
 use internal::prelude::*;
 use parking_lot::Mutex;
-use std::collections::HashMap;
-use std::sync::mpsc::{Receiver, Sender};
+use std::collections::{HashMap, VecDeque};
+use std::sync::mpsc::{Receiver, RecvTimeoutError, Sender};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::thread;
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ use typemap::ShareMap;
 #[cfg(feature = "framework")]
 use framework::Framework;
 
+const WAIT_BETWEEN_BOOTS_IN_SECONDS: u64 = 5;
+
 /// The shard queuer is a simple loop that runs indefinitely to manage the
 /// startup of shards.
 ///
@@ -49,6 +51,10 @@ pub struct ShardQueuer<H: EventHandler + Send + Sync + 'static> {
     ///
     /// [`ShardManagerMonitor`]: struct.ShardManagerMonitor.html
     pub manager_tx: Sender<ShardManagerMessage>,
+    /// The shards that are queued for booting.
+    ///
+    /// This will typically be filled with previously failed boots.
+    pub queue: VecDeque<(u64, u64)>,
     /// A copy of the map of shard runners.
     pub runners: Arc<Mutex<HashMap<ShardId, ShardRunnerInfo>>>,
     /// A receiver channel for the shard queuer to be told to start shards.
@@ -91,18 +97,27 @@ impl<H: EventHandler + Send + Sync + 'static> ShardQueuer<H> {
     /// [`ShardQueuerMessage::Start`]: enum.ShardQueuerMessage.html#variant.Start
     /// [`rx`]: #structfield.rx
     pub fn run(&mut self) {
-        while let Ok(msg) = self.rx.recv() {
-            match msg {
-                ShardQueuerMessage::Shutdown => break,
-                ShardQueuerMessage::Start(shard_id, shard_total) => {
-                    self.check_last_start();
-
-                    if let Err(why) = self.start(shard_id, shard_total) {
-                        warn!("Err starting shard {}: {:?}", shard_id, why);
-                    }
-
-                    self.last_start = Some(Instant::now());
+        // The duration to timeout from reads over the Rx channel. This can be
+        // done in a loop, and if the read times out then a shard can be
+        // started if one is presently waiting in the queue.
+        let wait_duration = Duration::from_secs(WAIT_BETWEEN_BOOTS_IN_SECONDS);
+
+        loop {
+            match self.rx.recv_timeout(wait_duration) {
+                Ok(ShardQueuerMessage::Shutdown) => break,
+                Ok(ShardQueuerMessage::Start(id, total)) => {
+                    self.checked_start(id.0, total.0);
+                },
+                Err(RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected) => {
+                    // If the sender half has disconnected then the queuer's
+                    // lifespan has passed and can shutdown.
+                    break;
                 },
+                Err(RecvTimeoutError::Timeout) => {
+                    if let Some((id, total)) = self.queue.pop_front() {
+                        self.checked_start(id, total);
+                    }
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -115,7 +130,7 @@ impl<H: EventHandler + Send + Sync + 'static> ShardQueuer<H> {
 
         // We must wait 5 seconds between IDENTIFYs to avoid session
         // invalidations.
-        let duration = Duration::from_secs(5);
+        let duration = Duration::from_secs(WAIT_BETWEEN_BOOTS_IN_SECONDS);
         let elapsed = instant.elapsed();
 
         if elapsed >= duration {
@@ -127,8 +142,21 @@ impl<H: EventHandler + Send + Sync + 'static> ShardQueuer<H> {
         thread::sleep(to_sleep);
     }
 
-    fn start(&mut self, shard_id: ShardId, shard_total: ShardId) -> Result<()> {
-        let shard_info = [shard_id.0, shard_total.0];
+    fn checked_start(&mut self, id: u64, total: u64) {
+        self.check_last_start();
+
+        if let Err(why) = self.start(id, total) {
+            warn!("Err starting shard {}: {:?}", id, why);
+            info!("Re-queueing start of shard {}", id);
+
+            self.queue.push_back((id, total));
+        }
+
+        self.last_start = Some(Instant::now());
+    }
+
+    fn start(&mut self, shard_id: u64, shard_total: u64) -> Result<()> {
+        let shard_info = [shard_id, shard_total];
 
         let shard = Shard::new(
             Arc::clone(&self.ws_url),
@@ -163,7 +191,7 @@ impl<H: EventHandler + Send + Sync + 'static> ShardQueuer<H> {
             let _ = runner.run();
         });
 
-        self.runners.lock().insert(shard_id, runner_info);
+        self.runners.lock().insert(ShardId(shard_id), runner_info);
 
         Ok(())
     }