diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 4eac967428..ce51f4b5ce 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -3500,13 +3500,14 @@ bool Application::isServerlessMode() const {
 }
 
 void Application::setIsInterstitialMode(bool interstitialMode) {
-    Settings settings;
-    bool enableInterstitial = settings.value("enableIntersitialMode", false).toBool();
-    if (_interstitialMode != interstitialMode && enableInterstitial) {
-        _interstitialMode = interstitialMode;
+    bool enableInterstitial = DependencyManager::get<NodeList>()->getDomainHandler().getInterstitialModeEnabled();
+    if (enableInterstitial) {
+        if (_interstitialMode != interstitialMode) {
+            _interstitialMode = interstitialMode;
 
-        DependencyManager::get<AudioClient>()->setAudioPaused(_interstitialMode);
-        DependencyManager::get<AvatarManager>()->setMyAvatarDataPacketsPaused(_interstitialMode);
+            DependencyManager::get<AudioClient>()->setAudioPaused(_interstitialMode);
+            DependencyManager::get<AvatarManager>()->setMyAvatarDataPacketsPaused(_interstitialMode);
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.h b/interface/src/Application.h
index 3bebc60480..eedbdb7622 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.h
+++ b/interface/src/Application.h
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ public slots:
 
     void setIsServerlessMode(bool serverlessDomain);
     void loadServerlessDomain(QUrl domainURL, bool errorDomain = false);
-    void setIsInterstitialMode(bool interstialMode);
+    void setIsInterstitialMode(bool interstitialMode);
 
     void updateVerboseLogging();
 
diff --git a/interface/src/ConnectionMonitor.cpp b/interface/src/ConnectionMonitor.cpp
index 3c85cfb339..e86061b090 100644
--- a/interface/src/ConnectionMonitor.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/ConnectionMonitor.cpp
@@ -41,9 +41,15 @@ void ConnectionMonitor::init() {
     }
 
     connect(&_timer, &QTimer::timeout, this, [this]() {
-        qDebug() << "ConnectionMonitor: Redirecting to 404 error domain";
         // set in a timeout error
-        emit setRedirectErrorState(REDIRECT_HIFI_ADDRESS, 5);
+        bool enableInterstitial = DependencyManager::get<NodeList>()->getDomainHandler().getInterstitialModeEnabled();
+        if (enableInterstitial) {
+            qDebug() << "ConnectionMonitor: Redirecting to 404 error domain";
+            emit setRedirectErrorState(REDIRECT_HIFI_ADDRESS, "", 5);
+        } else {
+            qDebug() << "ConnectionMonitor: Showing connection failure window";
+            DependencyManager::get<DialogsManager>()->setDomainConnectionFailureVisibility(true);
+        }
     });
 }
 
@@ -53,4 +59,8 @@ void ConnectionMonitor::startTimer() {
 
 void ConnectionMonitor::stopTimer() {
     _timer.stop();
+    bool enableInterstitial = DependencyManager::get<NodeList>()->getDomainHandler().getInterstitialModeEnabled();
+    if (!enableInterstitial) {
+        DependencyManager::get<DialogsManager>()->setDomainConnectionFailureVisibility(false);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/interface/src/ConnectionMonitor.h b/interface/src/ConnectionMonitor.h
index 5e75e2618b..2fda6ef7cd 100644
--- a/interface/src/ConnectionMonitor.h
+++ b/interface/src/ConnectionMonitor.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public:
     void init();
 
 signals:
-    void setRedirectErrorState(QUrl errorURL, int reasonCode);
+    void setRedirectErrorState(QUrl errorURL, QString reasonMessage = "", int reasonCode = -1, const QString& extraInfo = "");
 
 private slots:
     void startTimer();
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ private:
     QTimer _timer;
 };
 
-#endif // hifi_ConnectionMonitor_h
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif // hifi_ConnectionMonitor_h
diff --git a/interface/src/scripting/WindowScriptingInterface.cpp b/interface/src/scripting/WindowScriptingInterface.cpp
index e3ae65aee1..d4eb37e0aa 100644
--- a/interface/src/scripting/WindowScriptingInterface.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/scripting/WindowScriptingInterface.cpp
@@ -180,6 +180,14 @@ void WindowScriptingInterface::setPreviousBrowseAssetLocation(const QString& loc
     Setting::Handle<QVariant>(LAST_BROWSE_ASSETS_LOCATION_SETTING).set(location);
 }
 
+bool WindowScriptingInterface::getInterstitialModeEnabled() const {
+    return DependencyManager::get<NodeList>()->getDomainHandler().getInterstitialModeEnabled();
+}
+
+void WindowScriptingInterface::setInterstitialModeEnabled(bool enableInterstitialMode) {
+    DependencyManager::get<NodeList>()->getDomainHandler().setInterstitialModeEnabled(enableInterstitialMode);
+}
+
 bool  WindowScriptingInterface::isPointOnDesktopWindow(QVariant point) {
     auto offscreenUi = DependencyManager::get<OffscreenUi>();
     return offscreenUi->isPointOnDesktopWindow(point);
diff --git a/interface/src/scripting/WindowScriptingInterface.h b/interface/src/scripting/WindowScriptingInterface.h
index 3827406729..ddd7159f23 100644
--- a/interface/src/scripting/WindowScriptingInterface.h
+++ b/interface/src/scripting/WindowScriptingInterface.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ class WindowScriptingInterface : public QObject, public Dependency {
     Q_PROPERTY(int innerHeight READ getInnerHeight)
     Q_PROPERTY(int x READ getX)
     Q_PROPERTY(int y READ getY)
+    Q_PROPERTY(bool interstitialModeEnabled READ getInterstitialModeEnabled WRITE setInterstitialModeEnabled)
 
 public:
     WindowScriptingInterface();
@@ -758,6 +759,9 @@ private:
     QString getPreviousBrowseAssetLocation() const;
     void setPreviousBrowseAssetLocation(const QString& location);
 
+    bool getInterstitialModeEnabled() const;
+    void setInterstitialModeEnabled(bool enableInterstitialMode);
+
     void ensureReticleVisible() const;
 
     int createMessageBox(QString title, QString text, int buttons, int defaultButton);
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/AddressManager.h b/libraries/networking/src/AddressManager.h
index c7cdf8f4ea..17041a5fd7 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/AddressManager.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/AddressManager.h
@@ -140,8 +140,7 @@ public:
      * </table>
      * @typedef {number} location.LookupTrigger
      */
-    enum LookupTrigger
-    {
+    enum LookupTrigger {
         UserInput,
         Back,
         Forward,
@@ -207,9 +206,8 @@ public slots:
     // functions and signals that should be exposed are moved to a scripting interface class.
     //
     // we currently expect this to be called from NodeList once handleLookupString has been called with a path
-    bool goToViewpointForPath(const QString& viewpointString, const QString& pathString) {
-        return handleViewpoint(viewpointString, false, DomainPathResponse, false, pathString);
-    }
+    bool goToViewpointForPath(const QString& viewpointString, const QString& pathString)
+        { return handleViewpoint(viewpointString, false, DomainPathResponse, false, pathString); }
 
     /**jsdoc
      * Go back to the previous location in your navigation history, if there is one.
@@ -231,8 +229,7 @@ public slots:
      *     location history is correctly maintained.
      */
     void goToLocalSandbox(QString path = "", LookupTrigger trigger = LookupTrigger::StartupFromSettings) {
-        handleUrl(SANDBOX_HIFI_ADDRESS + path, trigger);
-    }
+        handleUrl(SANDBOX_HIFI_ADDRESS + path, trigger); }
 
     /**jsdoc
      * Go to the default "welcome" metaverse address.
@@ -364,8 +361,7 @@ signals:
      * location.locationChangeRequired.connect(onLocationChangeRequired);
      */
     void locationChangeRequired(const glm::vec3& newPosition,
-                                bool hasOrientationChange,
-                                const glm::quat& newOrientation,
+                                bool hasOrientationChange, const glm::quat& newOrientation,
                                 bool shouldFaceLocation);
 
     /**jsdoc
@@ -448,11 +444,8 @@ private:
 
     bool handleNetworkAddress(const QString& lookupString, LookupTrigger trigger, bool& hostChanged);
     void handlePath(const QString& path, LookupTrigger trigger, bool wasPathOnly = false);
-    bool handleViewpoint(const QString& viewpointString,
-                         bool shouldFace,
-                         LookupTrigger trigger,
-                         bool definitelyPathOnly = false,
-                         const QString& pathString = QString());
+    bool handleViewpoint(const QString& viewpointString, bool shouldFace, LookupTrigger trigger,
+                         bool definitelyPathOnly = false, const QString& pathString = QString());
     bool handleUsername(const QString& lookupString);
     bool handleDomainID(const QString& host);
 
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/DomainHandler.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/DomainHandler.cpp
index f34a93de96..df34a1fb59 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/DomainHandler.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/DomainHandler.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@
 
 #include <PathUtils.h>
 
+#include <shared/QtHelpers.h>
+
+#include <QThread>
+
 #include <QtCore/QJsonDocument>
 #include <QtCore/QDataStream>
 
@@ -134,6 +138,18 @@ void DomainHandler::hardReset() {
     _pendingPath.clear();
 }
 
+bool DomainHandler::getInterstitialModeEnabled() const {
+    return _interstitialModeSettingLock.resultWithReadLock<bool>([&] {
+        return _enableInterstitialMode.get();
+    });
+}
+
+void DomainHandler::setInterstitialModeEnabled(bool enableInterstitialMode) {
+    _interstitialModeSettingLock.withWriteLock([&] {
+        _enableInterstitialMode.set(enableInterstitialMode);
+    });
+}
+
 void DomainHandler::setErrorDomainURL(const QUrl& url) {
     _errorDomainURL = url;
     return;
@@ -340,11 +356,15 @@ void DomainHandler::loadedErrorDomain(std::map<QString, QString> namedPaths) {
     DependencyManager::get<AddressManager>()->goToViewpointForPath(viewpoint, QString());
 }
 
-void DomainHandler::setRedirectErrorState(QUrl errorUrl, int reasonCode) {
-    _errorDomainURL = errorUrl;
+void DomainHandler::setRedirectErrorState(QUrl errorUrl, QString reasonMessage, int reasonCode, const QString& extraInfo) {
     _lastDomainConnectionError = reasonCode;
-    _isInErrorState = true;
-    emit redirectToErrorDomainURL(_errorDomainURL);
+    if (getInterstitialModeEnabled()) {
+        _errorDomainURL = errorUrl;
+        _isInErrorState = true;
+        emit redirectToErrorDomainURL(_errorDomainURL);
+    } else {
+        emit domainConnectionRefused(reasonMessage, reasonCode, extraInfo);
+    }
 }
 
 void DomainHandler::requestDomainSettings() {
@@ -485,13 +505,9 @@ void DomainHandler::processDomainServerConnectionDeniedPacket(QSharedPointer<Rec
 #if defined(Q_OS_ANDROID)
         emit domainConnectionRefused(reasonMessage, (int)reasonCode, extraInfo);
 #else
-        if (reasonCode == ConnectionRefusedReason::ProtocolMismatch || reasonCode == ConnectionRefusedReason::NotAuthorized) {
-            // ingest the error - this is a "hard" connection refusal.
-            setRedirectErrorState(_errorDomainURL, (int)reasonCode);
-        } else {
-            emit domainConnectionRefused(reasonMessage, (int)reasonCode, extraInfo);
-        }
-        _lastDomainConnectionError = (int)reasonCode;
+
+        // ingest the error - this is a "hard" connection refusal.
+        setRedirectErrorState(_errorDomainURL, reasonMessage, (int)reasonCode, extraInfo);
 #endif
     }
 
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/DomainHandler.h b/libraries/networking/src/DomainHandler.h
index 3d361482ac..e9ec20ba2e 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/DomainHandler.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/DomainHandler.h
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@
 #include <QtCore/QUrl>
 #include <QtNetwork/QHostInfo>
 
+#include <shared/ReadWriteLockable.h>
+#include <SettingHandle.h>
+
 #include "HifiSockAddr.h"
 #include "NetworkPeer.h"
 #include "NLPacket.h"
@@ -83,6 +86,8 @@ public:
     bool isConnected() const { return _isConnected; }
     void setIsConnected(bool isConnected);
     bool isServerless() const { return _domainURL.scheme() != URL_SCHEME_HIFI; }
+    bool getInterstitialModeEnabled() const;
+    void setInterstitialModeEnabled(bool enableInterstitialMode);
 
     void connectedToServerless(std::map<QString, QString> namedPaths);
 
@@ -171,7 +176,7 @@ public slots:
     void processDomainServerConnectionDeniedPacket(QSharedPointer<ReceivedMessage> message);
 
     // sets domain handler in error state.
-    void setRedirectErrorState(QUrl errorUrl, int reasonCode);
+    void setRedirectErrorState(QUrl errorUrl, QString reasonMessage = "", int reason = -1, const QString& extraInfo = "");
 
     bool isInErrorState() { return _isInErrorState; }
 
@@ -224,6 +229,8 @@ private:
     QJsonObject _settingsObject;
     QString _pendingPath;
     QTimer _settingsTimer;
+    mutable ReadWriteLockable _interstitialModeSettingLock;
+    Setting::Handle<bool> _enableInterstitialMode{ "enableInterstitialMode", false };
 
     QSet<QString> _domainConnectionRefusals;
     bool _hasCheckedForAccessToken { false };