diff --git a/rattail_tempmon/client.py b/rattail_tempmon/client.py
index c3d8b63..2b154cb 100644
--- a/rattail_tempmon/client.py
+++ b/rattail_tempmon/client.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# -*- coding: utf-8; -*-
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  Rattail -- Retail Software Framework
-#  Copyright © 2010-2017 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2010-2018 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Rattail.
 #
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ import random
 import socket
 import logging
 
+import six
+from sqlalchemy.exc import OperationalError
 from sqlalchemy.orm.exc import NoResultFound
 
 from rattail.daemon import Daemon
@@ -71,6 +73,7 @@ class TempmonClient(Daemon):
         session.close()
 
         # main loop: take readings, pause, repeat
+        self.failed_checks = 0
         while True:
             self.take_readings(client_uuid)
             time.sleep(self.delay)
@@ -79,6 +82,7 @@ class TempmonClient(Daemon):
         """
         Take new readings for all enabled probes on this client.
         """
+        # log.debug("taking readings")
         session = Session()
 
         try:
@@ -87,20 +91,43 @@ class TempmonClient(Daemon):
             if client.enabled:
                 for probe in client.enabled_probes():
                     self.take_reading(session, probe)
+            session.flush()
 
-        except:
-            log.exception("Failed to read/record temperature data (but will keep trying)")
-            session.rollback()
-
-        else:
-            # make sure we show as being online
+            # one more thing, make sure our client appears "online"
             if not client.online:
                 client.online = True
-            try:
-                session.commit()
-            except:
+
+        except Exception as error:
+            log_error = True
+            self.failed_checks += 1
+            session.rollback()
+
+            # our goal here is to suppress logging when we see connection
+            # errors which are due to a simple postgres restart.  but if they
+            # keep coming then we'll go ahead and log them (sending email)
+            if isinstance(error, OperationalError):
+
+                # this first test works upon first DB restart, as well as the
+                # first time after DB stop.  but in the case of DB stop,
+                # subsequent errors will instead match the second test
+                if error.connection_invalidated or (
+                        'could not connect to server: Connection refused' in six.text_type(error)):
+
+                    # only suppress logging for 3 failures, after that we let them go
+                    # TODO: should make the max attempts configurable
+                    if self.failed_checks < 4:
+                        log_error = False
+                        log.debug("database connection failure #%s: %s",
+                                  self.failed_checks,
+                                  six.text_type(error))
+
+            # send error email unless we're suppressing it for now
+            if log_error:
                 log.exception("Failed to read/record temperature data (but will keep trying)")
-                session.rollback()
+
+        else: # taking readings was successful
+            self.failed_checks = 0
+            session.commit()
 
         finally:
             session.close()