diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
index b8010ac9..897af4a0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - run: mk python-sa-types
 
-      - run: mk docs version=5.17.7
+      - run: mk docs version=5.17.8
         if: |
           matrix.python-version == '3.14'
           && matrix.system == 'ubuntu-latest'
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - run: |
           mk python-release owner=libre-embedded \
-                            repo=runtimepy version=5.17.7
+                            repo=runtimepy version=5.17.8
         if: |
           matrix.python-version == '3.14'
           && matrix.system == 'ubuntu-latest'
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 68d5451c..65f5bad9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@
     =====================================
     generator=datazen
     version=3.2.4
-    hash=463f15ff45a85cd1551cbc27cd64c6aa
+    hash=2b117d95609e4be28ce040a384008fbc
     =====================================
 -->
 
-# runtimepy ([5.17.7](https://pypi.org/project/runtimepy/))
+# runtimepy ([5.17.8](https://pypi.org/project/runtimepy/))
 
 [![python](https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/runtimepy.svg)](https://pypi.org/project/runtimepy/)
 ![Build Status](https://github.com/libre-embedded/runtimepy/workflows/Python%20Package/badge.svg)
diff --git a/local/variables/package.yaml b/local/variables/package.yaml
index 37825bf9..8672bd28 100644
--- a/local/variables/package.yaml
+++ b/local/variables/package.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ---
 major: 5
 minor: 17
-patch: 7
+patch: 8
 entry: runtimepy
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 25ea8f4b..c25014b5 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta:__legacy__"
 
 [project]
 name = "runtimepy"
-version = "5.17.7"
+version = "5.17.8"
 description = "A framework for implementing Python services."
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.13"
diff --git a/runtimepy/__init__.py b/runtimepy/__init__.py
index de6cf216..18b194a5 100644
--- a/runtimepy/__init__.py
+++ b/runtimepy/__init__.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # =====================================
 # generator=datazen
 # version=3.2.4
-# hash=afdb221becccb19dc15b98597cb5727b
+# hash=94b66e105ca78fb078bfe8aeae461106
 # =====================================
 
 """
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 DESCRIPTION = "A framework for implementing Python services."
 PKG_NAME = "runtimepy"
-VERSION = "5.17.7"
+VERSION = "5.17.8"
 
 # runtimepy-specific content.
 METRICS_NAME = "metrics"
diff --git a/runtimepy/message/interface.py b/runtimepy/message/interface.py
index 7143eb93..86461904 100644
--- a/runtimepy/message/interface.py
+++ b/runtimepy/message/interface.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 from io import BytesIO
 import logging
 from typing import Any, Optional, Union
+from uuid import uuid4
 
 # third-party
 from vcorelib.dict.codec import JsonCodec
@@ -40,7 +41,6 @@
     T,
     TypedHandler,
 )
-from runtimepy.util import Identifier
 
 
 class JsonMessageInterface:
@@ -71,10 +71,8 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
             "kind": type(self).__name__,
         }
 
-        self.curr_id = Identifier()
-
-        self.ids_waiting: dict[int, asyncio.Event] = {}
-        self.id_responses: dict[int, JsonMessage] = {}
+        self.ids_waiting: dict[str, asyncio.Event] = {}
+        self.id_responses: dict[str, JsonMessage] = {}
 
         # Standard handlers.
         self.basic_handler("loopback")
@@ -97,14 +95,15 @@ async def bus_ro_handler(
         async def bus_handler(outbox: JsonMessage, inbox: JsonMessage) -> None:
             """Handle read-only bus message requests."""
 
-            outbox.update(
-                await BUS.send(
-                    inbox["key"],
-                    inbox.get("data", {}),
-                    send_ro=inbox.get("send_ro", True),
-                    null_ok=inbox.get("null_ok", False),
+            if "key" in inbox:
+                outbox.update(
+                    await BUS.send(
+                        inbox["key"],
+                        inbox.get("data", {}),
+                        send_ro=inbox.get("send_ro", True),
+                        null_ok=inbox.get("null_ok", False),
+                    )
                 )
-            )
 
         self.basic_handler("bus", bus_handler)
 
@@ -284,7 +283,7 @@ async def wait_json(
 
         data = copy(data)
         assert "__id__" not in data, data
-        ident = self.curr_id()
+        ident = str(uuid4())
         data["__id__"] = ident
 
         got_response = asyncio.Event()
diff --git a/runtimepy/net/backoff.py b/runtimepy/net/backoff.py
index aa8ca4b0..84b1b9e0 100644
--- a/runtimepy/net/backoff.py
+++ b/runtimepy/net/backoff.py
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 # built-in
 import asyncio
 
+# third-party
+from vcorelib.math.time import LoggerType
+
 
 class ExponentialBackoff:
     """A class implementing a simple exponential-backoff handler."""
@@ -38,9 +41,11 @@ def give_up(self) -> bool:
         """
         return self.attempt >= self.max_tries
 
-    async def sleep(self) -> None:
+    async def sleep(self, logger: LoggerType = None) -> None:
         """Sleep for the correct amount of time."""
 
+        if logger:
+            logger.warning("[%d] %fs sleep", self.attempt, self.wait)
         await asyncio.sleep(self.wait)
         self.wait = min((2 ^ self.attempt) * self.interval, self.max_sleep)
         self.attempt += 1
diff --git a/runtimepy/net/connection.py b/runtimepy/net/connection.py
index 87cfaa1f..c6ecb84e 100644
--- a/runtimepy/net/connection.py
+++ b/runtimepy/net/connection.py
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ async def _handle_restart(
             and not backoff.give_up
             and (stop_sig is None or not stop_sig.is_set())
         ):
-            await backoff.sleep()
+            await backoff.sleep(logger=self.logger)
             if await self.restart():
                 self._set_enabled(True)
                 self._restarts.increment()
diff --git a/runtimepy/net/tcp/connection.py b/runtimepy/net/tcp/connection.py
index 0c24a7a8..49a1d50b 100644
--- a/runtimepy/net/tcp/connection.py
+++ b/runtimepy/net/tcp/connection.py
@@ -199,6 +199,10 @@ async def app(
 
         def app_cb(conn: T) -> None:
             """Call the appication callback and enqueue the new connection."""
+
+            # Turn off connection restarts for server-side connections.
+            conn.env["auto_restart"] = False
+
             if callback is not None:
                 callback(conn)
             assert manager is not None
diff --git a/runtimepy/net/websocket/connection.py b/runtimepy/net/websocket/connection.py
index aebdcb03..ee774d04 100644
--- a/runtimepy/net/websocket/connection.py
+++ b/runtimepy/net/websocket/connection.py
@@ -178,6 +178,10 @@ async def _handler(protocol: _ServerConnection) -> None:
             """A handler that runs the callers initialization function."""
 
             conn = cls(protocol)
+
+            # Turn off connection restarts for server-side connections.
+            conn.env["auto_restart"] = False
+
             if init is None or await init(conn):
                 if manager is not None:
                     # Allow the connection manager to process this connection.
diff --git a/runtimepy/subprocess/peer.py b/runtimepy/subprocess/peer.py
index 0e5522f0..28930772 100644
--- a/runtimepy/subprocess/peer.py
+++ b/runtimepy/subprocess/peer.py
@@ -46,9 +46,6 @@ def __init__(
         super().__init__(name, config, markdown=markdown)
         self.protocol = protocol
 
-        # Offset message identifiers.
-        self.curr_id.curr_id += 1
-
     async def _poll(self) -> None:
         """Poll input queues."""