diff --git a/src/d_clisrv.c b/src/d_clisrv.c
index 17bc0a84c..4c9ff3194 100644
--- a/src/d_clisrv.c
+++ b/src/d_clisrv.c
@@ -1623,6 +1623,8 @@ static void SendAskInfo(INT32 node, boolean viams)
 serverelem_t serverlist[MAXSERVERLIST];
 UINT32 serverlistcount = 0;
 
+#define FORCECLOSE 0x8000
+
 static void SL_ClearServerList(INT32 connectedserver)
 {
 	UINT32 i;
@@ -1630,7 +1632,7 @@ static void SL_ClearServerList(INT32 connectedserver)
 	for (i = 0; i < serverlistcount; i++)
 		if (connectedserver != serverlist[i].node)
 		{
-			Net_CloseConnection(serverlist[i].node);
+			Net_CloseConnection(serverlist[i].node|FORCECLOSE);
 			serverlist[i].node = 0;
 		}
 	serverlistcount = 0;
@@ -1712,12 +1714,25 @@ void CL_UpdateServerList(boolean internetsearch, INT32 room)
 				// Make sure MS version matches our own, to
 				// thwart nefarious servers who lie to the MS.
 
-				if(strcmp(version, server_list[i].version) == 0)
+				if (strcmp(version, server_list[i].version) == 0)
 				{
 					INT32 node = I_NetMakeNodewPort(server_list[i].ip, server_list[i].port);
 					if (node == -1)
 						break; // no more node free
 					SendAskInfo(node, true);
+					// Force close the connection so that servers can't eat
+					// up nodes forever if we never get a reply back from them
+					// (usually when they've not forwarded their ports).
+					//
+					// Don't worry, we'll get in contact with the working
+					// servers again when they send SERVERINFO to us later!
+					//
+					// (Note: as a side effect this probably means every
+					// server in the list will probably be using the same node (e.g. node 1),
+					// not that it matters which nodes they use when
+					// the connections are closed afterwards anyway)
+					// -- Monster Iestyn 12/11/18
+					Net_CloseConnection(node|FORCECLOSE);
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/m_menu.c b/src/m_menu.c
index c9adbfb9c..cfcb24585 100644
--- a/src/m_menu.c
+++ b/src/m_menu.c
@@ -6048,7 +6048,7 @@ void M_SortServerList(void)
 
 #ifndef NONET
 #ifdef UPDATE_ALERT
-static int M_CheckMODVersion(void)
+static boolean M_CheckMODVersion(void)
 {
 	char updatestring[500];
 	const char *updatecheck = GetMODVersion();
diff --git a/src/mserv.c b/src/mserv.c
index 2bb2923d7..a84266c88 100644
--- a/src/mserv.c
+++ b/src/mserv.c
@@ -557,9 +557,21 @@ const char *GetMODVersion(void)
 	msg.room = MODID; // Might as well use it for something.
 	sprintf(msg.buffer,"%d",MODVERSION);
 	if (MS_Write(&msg) < 0)
+	{
+		CONS_Alert(CONS_ERROR, M_GetText("Could not send to the Master Server\n"));
+		M_StartMessage(M_GetText("Could not send to the Master Server\n"), NULL, MM_NOTHING);
+		CloseConnection();
 		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	if (MS_Read(&msg) < 0)
+	{
+		CONS_Alert(CONS_ERROR, M_GetText("No reply from the Master Server\n"));
+		M_StartMessage(M_GetText("No reply from the Master Server\n"), NULL, MM_NOTHING);
+		CloseConnection();
+		return NULL;
+	}
 
-	MS_Read(&msg);
 	CloseConnection();
 
 	if(strcmp(msg.buffer,"NULL") != 0)
@@ -587,9 +599,19 @@ void GetMODVersion_Console(void)
 	msg.room = MODID; // Might as well use it for something.
 	sprintf(msg.buffer,"%d",MODVERSION);
 	if (MS_Write(&msg) < 0)
+	{
+		CONS_Alert(CONS_ERROR, M_GetText("Could not send to the Master Server\n"));
+		CloseConnection();
 		return;
+	}
+
+	if (MS_Read(&msg) < 0)
+	{
+		CONS_Alert(CONS_ERROR, M_GetText("No reply from the Master Server\n"));
+		CloseConnection();
+		return;
+	}
 
-	MS_Read(&msg);
 	CloseConnection();
 
 	if(strcmp(msg.buffer,"NULL") != 0)