diff --git a/authd/provider.c b/authd/provider.c
index 97a2e882..bd46f53c 100644
--- a/authd/provider.c
+++ b/authd/provider.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ void destroy_providers(void)
 		{
 			/* TBD - is this the right thing?
 			 * (NOTE - this error message is designed for morons) */
-			reject_client(&auth_clients[i], 0,
+			reject_client(&auth_clients[i], 0, true,
 					"IRC server reloading... try reconnecting in a few seconds");
 		}
 	}
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ void provider_done(struct auth_client *auth, provider_t id)
 	}
 }
 
-/* Reject a client, cancel outstanding providers if any */
-void reject_client(struct auth_client *auth, provider_t id, const char *reason)
+/* Reject a client, cancel outstanding providers if any if hard set to true */
+void reject_client(struct auth_client *auth, provider_t id, bool hard, const char *reason)
 {
 	uint16_t cid = auth->cid;
 	char reject;
@@ -165,10 +165,11 @@ void reject_client(struct auth_client *auth, provider_t id, const char *reason)
 
 	unset_provider(auth, id);
 
-	if(auth->providers)
+	if(hard && auth->providers)
+	{
 		cancel_providers(auth);
-
-	memset(&auth_clients[cid], 0, sizeof(struct auth_client));
+		memset(&auth_clients[cid], 0, sizeof(struct auth_client));
+	}
 }
 
 /* Accept a client, cancel outstanding providers if any */
diff --git a/authd/provider.h b/authd/provider.h
index 494e3328..4f3c57a9 100644
--- a/authd/provider.h
+++ b/authd/provider.h
@@ -82,9 +82,9 @@ void init_providers(void);
 void destroy_providers(void);
 void cancel_providers(struct auth_client *auth);
 
-void provider_done(struct auth_client *auth, provider_t provider);
-void reject_client(struct auth_client *auth, provider_t provider, const char *reason);
-void accept_client(struct auth_client *auth, provider_t provider);
+void provider_done(struct auth_client *auth, provider_t id);
+void accept_client(struct auth_client *auth, provider_t id);
+void reject_client(struct auth_client *auth, provider_t id, bool hard, const char *reason);
 
 void notice_client(struct auth_client *auth, const char *notice);