diff --git a/client/app/scripts/actions/app-actions.js b/client/app/scripts/actions/app-actions.js
index 3db3b7c269..943f6453fb 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/actions/app-actions.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/actions/app-actions.js
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ module.exports = {
     WebapiUtils.getNodesDelta(AppStore.getCurrentTopologyUrl());
   },
 
+  openWebsocket: function() {
+    AppDispatcher.dispatch({
+      type: ActionTypes.OPEN_WEBSOCKET
+    });
+  },
+
   closeWebsocket: function() {
     AppDispatcher.dispatch({
       type: ActionTypes.CLOSE_WEBSOCKET
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/constants/action-types.js b/client/app/scripts/constants/action-types.js
index bf9234a950..2450cbccdb 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/constants/action-types.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/constants/action-types.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ module.exports = keymirror({
   HIT_ESC_KEY: null,
   LEAVE_EDGE: null,
   LEAVE_NODE: null,
+  OPEN_WEBSOCKET: null,
   RECEIVE_NODE_DETAILS: null,
   RECEIVE_NODES: null,
   RECEIVE_NODES_DELTA: null,
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/stores/__tests__/app-store-test.js b/client/app/scripts/stores/__tests__/app-store-test.js
index aa71805f0d..de0adf6f02 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/stores/__tests__/app-store-test.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/stores/__tests__/app-store-test.js
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ describe('AppStore', function() {
     type: ActionTypes.HIT_ESC_KEY
   };
 
+  const OpenWebsocketAction = {
+    type: ActionTypes.OPEN_WEBSOCKET
+  };
+
   const ReceiveEmptyNodesDeltaAction = {
     type: ActionTypes.RECEIVE_NODES_DELTA,
     delta: {}
@@ -170,6 +174,9 @@ describe('AppStore', function() {
     expect(AppStore.isWebsocketClosed()).toBeTruthy();
     expect(AppStore.getNodes()).toEqual(NODE_SET);
 
+    registeredCallback(OpenWebsocketAction);
+    expect(AppStore.isWebsocketClosed()).toBeFalsy();
+
     registeredCallback(ReceiveEmptyNodesDeltaAction);
     expect(AppStore.getNodes()).toEqual({});
   });
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/stores/app-store.js b/client/app/scripts/stores/app-store.js
index 1f52041663..08731fed97 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/stores/app-store.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/stores/app-store.js
@@ -188,6 +188,14 @@ AppStore.registeredCallback = function(payload) {
       AppStore.emit(AppStore.CHANGE_EVENT);
       break;
 
+    case ActionTypes.OPEN_WEBSOCKET:
+      // flush nodes cache after re-connect
+      nodes = {};
+      websocketClosed = false;
+
+      AppStore.emit(AppStore.CHANGE_EVENT);
+      break;
+
     case ActionTypes.RECEIVE_ERROR:
       errorUrl = payload.errorUrl;
       AppStore.emit(AppStore.CHANGE_EVENT);
@@ -207,12 +215,6 @@ AppStore.registeredCallback = function(payload) {
 
       errorUrl = null;
 
-      // flush nodes cache after re-connect
-      if (websocketClosed) {
-        nodes = {};
-      }
-      websocketClosed = false;
-
       // nodes that no longer exist
       _.each(payload.delta.remove, function(nodeId) {
         // in case node disappears before mouseleave event
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/utils/web-api-utils.js b/client/app/scripts/utils/web-api-utils.js
index 4add414e76..4400e90338 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/utils/web-api-utils.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/utils/web-api-utils.js
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ function createWebsocket(topologyUrl) {
 
   socket = new WebSocket(WS_URL + topologyUrl + '/ws?t=' + updateFrequency);
 
+  socket.onopen = function() {
+    AppActions.openWebsocket();
+  };
+
   socket.onclose = function() {
     clearTimeout(reconnectTimer);
     socket = null;