diff --git a/src/wormhole/server/rendezvous.py b/src/wormhole/server/rendezvous.py
index 71cdcc5..8ad206a 100644
--- a/src/wormhole/server/rendezvous.py
+++ b/src/wormhole/server/rendezvous.py
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ def generate_mailbox_id():
 
 class CrowdedError(Exception):
     pass
+class ReclaimedError(Exception):
+    pass
 
 Usage = namedtuple("Usage", ["started", "waiting_time", "total_time", "result"])
 TransitUsage = namedtuple("TransitUsage",
@@ -41,6 +43,20 @@ class Mailbox:
                        " (`mailbox_id`, `opened`, `side`, `added`)"
                        " VALUES(?,?,?,?)",
                        (self._mailbox_id, True, side, when))
+        # We accept re-opening a mailbox which a side previously closed,
+        # unlike claim_nameplate(), which forbids any side from re-claiming a
+        # nameplate which they previously released. (Nameplates forbid this
+        # because the act of claiming a nameplate for the first time causes a
+        # new mailbox to be created, which should only happen once).
+        # Mailboxes have their own distinct objects (to manage
+        # subscriptions), so closing one which was already closed requires
+        # making a new object, which works by calling open() just before
+        # close(). We really do want to support re-closing closed mailboxes,
+        # because this enables intermittently-connected clients, who remember
+        # sending a 'close' but aren't sure whether it was received or not,
+        # then get shut down. Those clients will wake up and re-send the
+        # 'close', until they receive the 'closed' ack message.
+
         self._touch(when)
         db.commit() # XXX: reconcile the need for this with the comment above
 
@@ -219,6 +235,10 @@ class AppNamespace:
                        " (`nameplates_id`, `claimed`, `side`, `added`)"
                        " VALUES(?,?,?,?)",
                        (npid, True, side, when))
+        else:
+            if not row["claimed"]:
+                raise ReclaimedError("you cannot re-claim a nameplate that your side previously released")
+            # since that might cause a new mailbox to be allocated
         db.commit()
 
         self.open_mailbox(mailbox_id, side, when) # may raise CrowdedError
diff --git a/src/wormhole/server/rendezvous_websocket.py b/src/wormhole/server/rendezvous_websocket.py
index 1349849..67e46f4 100644
--- a/src/wormhole/server/rendezvous_websocket.py
+++ b/src/wormhole/server/rendezvous_websocket.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import time
 from twisted.internet import reactor
 from twisted.python import log
 from autobahn.twisted import websocket
-from .rendezvous import CrowdedError, SidedMessage
+from .rendezvous import CrowdedError, ReclaimedError, SidedMessage
 from ..util import dict_to_bytes, bytes_to_dict
 
 # The WebSocket allows the client to send "commands" to the server, and the
@@ -190,6 +190,8 @@ class WebSocketRendezvous(websocket.WebSocketServerProtocol):
                                                    server_rx)
         except CrowdedError:
             raise Error("crowded")
+        except ReclaimedError:
+            raise Error("reclaimed")
         self.send("claimed", mailbox=mailbox_id)
 
     def handle_release(self, msg, server_rx):
diff --git a/src/wormhole/test/test_server.py b/src/wormhole/test/test_server.py
index 3fc1274..06daff3 100644
--- a/src/wormhole/test/test_server.py
+++ b/src/wormhole/test/test_server.py
@@ -1073,6 +1073,47 @@ class WebSocketAPI(_Util, ServerBase, unittest.TestCase):
         c.close()
         yield c.d
 
+
+    @inlineCallbacks
+    def test_interrupted_client_nameplate_reclaimed(self):
+        c = yield self.make_client()
+        yield c.next_non_ack()
+        c.send("bind", appid="appid", side="side")
+        app = self._rendezvous.get_app("appid")
+
+        # a new claim on a previously-closed nameplate is forbidden. We make
+        # a new nameplate here and manually open a second claim on it, so the
+        # nameplate stays alive long enough for the code check to happen.
+        c = yield self.make_client()
+        yield c.next_non_ack()
+        c.send("bind", appid="appid", side="side")
+        c.send("claim", nameplate="np2")
+        m = yield c.next_non_ack()
+        self.assertEqual(m["type"], "claimed")
+        app.claim_nameplate("np2", "side2", 0)
+        c.send("release", nameplate="np2")
+        m = yield c.next_non_ack()
+        self.assertEqual(m["type"], "released")
+        np_row, side_rows = self._nameplate(app, "np2")
+        claims = sorted([(row["side"], row["claimed"]) for row in side_rows])
+        self.assertEqual(claims, [("side", 0), ("side2", 1)])
+        c.close()
+        yield c.d
+
+        c = yield self.make_client()
+        yield c.next_non_ack()
+        c.send("bind", appid="appid", side="side")
+        c.send("claim", nameplate="np2") # new claim is forbidden
+        err = yield c.next_non_ack()
+        self.assertEqual(err["type"], "error")
+        self.assertEqual(err["error"], "reclaimed")
+
+        np_row, side_rows = self._nameplate(app, "np2")
+        claims = sorted([(row["side"], row["claimed"]) for row in side_rows])
+        self.assertEqual(claims, [("side", 0), ("side2", 1)])
+        c.close()
+        yield c.d
+
     @inlineCallbacks
     def test_interrupted_client_mailbox(self):
         # a client's interactions with the server might be split over