diff --git a/packages/follower-livedata/follower.js b/packages/follower-livedata/follower.js
index 80991c50dd..eb5634d7c6 100644
--- a/packages/follower-livedata/follower.js
+++ b/packages/follower-livedata/follower.js
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ Follower = {
         electorTries[tryingUrl]++;
       }
       url = url || findFewestTries();
-      console.log("trying", url, electorTries, tryingUrl, process.env.GALAXY_JOB);
+      //console.log("trying", url, electorTries, tryingUrl, process.env.GALAXY_JOB);
 
       // Don't keep trying the same url as fast as we can if it's not working.
       if (electorTries[url] > 2) {
@@ -217,8 +217,18 @@ Follower = {
     // leadership group.
     conn._applyImpl = conn.apply;
     conn.apply = function (/* arguments */) {
-      connectedToLeadershipGroup.wait();
-      return conn._applyImpl.apply(conn, arguments);
+      var args = _.toArray(arguments);
+      if (typeof args[args.length-1] === 'function') {
+        // this needs to be independent of this fiber if there is a callback.
+        Meteor.defer(function () {
+          connectedToLeadershipGroup.wait();
+          return conn._applyImpl.apply(conn, args);
+        });
+        return null; // if there is a callback, the return value is not used
+      } else {
+        connectedToLeadershipGroup.wait();
+        return conn._applyImpl.apply(conn, args);
+      }
     };
 
     conn.onLost = function (callback) {
diff --git a/packages/webapp/webapp_server.js b/packages/webapp/webapp_server.js
index 908308f8e9..f5ac09e010 100644
--- a/packages/webapp/webapp_server.js
+++ b/packages/webapp/webapp_server.js
@@ -450,7 +450,6 @@ var runWebAppServer = function () {
                 };
               } else {
                 proxyConf = configuration.proxy;
-
               }
               Log("Attempting to bind to proxy at " + proxyService.providers.proxy);
               console.log(proxyConf);
@@ -477,6 +476,8 @@ var runWebAppServer = function () {
   };
 };
 
+
+var proxy;
 WebAppInternals.bindToProxy = function (proxyConfig, proxyServiceName) {
   var securePort = proxyConfig.securePort || 4433;
   var insecurePort = proxyConfig.insecurePort || 8080;
@@ -508,11 +509,18 @@ WebAppInternals.bindToProxy = function (proxyConfig, proxyServiceName) {
 
   // This is run after packages are loaded (in main) so we can use
   // Follower.connect.
-  var proxy = Package["follower-livedata"].Follower.connect(
-    proxyConfig.proxyEndpoint, {
-      group: proxyServiceName
-    }
-  );
+  if (proxy) {
+    proxy.reconnect({
+      url: proxyConfig.proxyEndpoint
+    });
+  } else {
+    proxy = Package["follower-livedata"].Follower.connect(
+      proxyConfig.proxyEndpoint, {
+        group: proxyServiceName
+      }
+    );
+  }
+
   var route = process.env.ROUTE;
   var host = route.split(":")[0];
   var port = +route.split(":")[1];