diff --git a/mars.h b/mars.h
index 56b7e95a..3e49c796 100644
--- a/mars.h
+++ b/mars.h
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ struct mars_info {
 	const char *brick_path;						\
 	struct mars_global *global;					\
 	int brick_version;						\
+	bool killme;							\
 	void (*show_status)(struct mars_brick *brick, bool shutdown);	\
 
 struct mars_brick {
diff --git a/mars_server.c b/mars_server.c
index 2d6450d3..d767d680 100644
--- a/mars_server.c
+++ b/mars_server.c
@@ -408,6 +408,10 @@ int handler_thread(void *data)
 				0);
 			if (likely(prev)) {
 				status = generic_connect((void*)brick->inputs[0], (void*)prev->outputs[0]);
+				if (unlikely(status < 0)) {
+					MARS_ERR("#%d cannot connect to '%s'\n", sock->s_debug_nr, path);
+				}
+				prev->killme = true;
 			} else {
 				MARS_ERR("#%d cannot find brick '%s'\n", sock->s_debug_nr, path);
 			}
diff --git a/sy_old/mars_light.c b/sy_old/mars_light.c
index d3ac952f..ed769bd9 100644
--- a/sy_old/mars_light.c
+++ b/sy_old/mars_light.c
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ int _set_client_params(struct mars_brick *_brick, void *private)
 	struct client_cookie *clc = private;
 	client_brick->io_timeout = 0;
 	client_brick->limit_mode = clc ? clc->limit_mode : false;
+	client_brick->killme = true;
 	MARS_INF("name = '%s' path = '%s'\n", _brick->brick_name, _brick->brick_path);
 	return 1;
 }
@@ -228,6 +229,7 @@ int _set_sio_params(struct mars_brick *_brick, void *private)
 	}
 	sio_brick->o_direct = false; // important!
 	sio_brick->o_fdsync = true;
+	sio_brick->killme = true;
 	MARS_INF("name = '%s' path = '%s'\n", _brick->brick_name, _brick->brick_path);
 	return 1;
 }
@@ -250,6 +252,7 @@ int _set_aio_params(struct mars_brick *_brick, void *private)
 	aio_brick->o_creat = clc && clc->create_mode;
 	aio_brick->o_direct = false; // important!
 	aio_brick->o_fdsync = true;
+	aio_brick->killme = true;
 	MARS_INF("name = '%s' path = '%s'\n", _brick->brick_name, _brick->brick_path);
 	return 1;
 }
@@ -276,6 +279,7 @@ int _set_bio_params(struct mars_brick *_brick, void *private)
 	bio_brick->do_noidle = BIO_NOIDLE;
 	bio_brick->do_sync = BIO_SYNC;
 	bio_brick->do_unplug = BIO_UNPLUG;
+	bio_brick->killme = true;
 	MARS_INF("name = '%s' path = '%s'\n", _brick->brick_name, _brick->brick_path);
 	return 1;
 }
@@ -325,6 +329,7 @@ int _set_copy_params(struct mars_brick *_brick, void *private)
 	copy_brick->io_prio = COPY_PRIO;
 	copy_brick->verify_mode = cc->verify_mode;
 	copy_brick->repair_mode = true;
+	copy_brick->killme = true;
 	MARS_INF("name = '%s' path = '%s'\n", _brick->brick_name, _brick->brick_path);
 
 	/* Determine the copy area, switch on/off when necessary
diff --git a/sy_old/sy_generic.c b/sy_old/sy_generic.c
index e9dd79c1..3e333099 100644
--- a/sy_old/sy_generic.c
+++ b/sy_old/sy_generic.c
@@ -1216,7 +1216,11 @@ restart:
 			brick = container_of(tmp, struct mars_brick, global_brick_link);
 		}
 		// only kill the right brick types
-		if (brick->type != type) {
+		if (type && brick->type != type) {
+			continue;
+		}
+		// only kill marked bricks
+		if (!brick->killme) {
 			continue;
 		}
 		// only kill unconnected bricks