diff --git a/config/config.exs b/config/config.exs
index d2d855e..c4fdc09 100644
--- a/config/config.exs
+++ b/config/config.exs
@@ -1 +1,5 @@
 use Mix.Config
+
+config :logger,
+       # disable console backend, so it does not clutter `mix test` output
+       backends: []
diff --git a/lib/logger_logstash_backend.ex b/lib/logger_logstash_backend.ex
index 2c4106f..541223e 100644
--- a/lib/logger_logstash_backend.ex
+++ b/lib/logger_logstash_backend.ex
@@ -14,15 +14,42 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 ################################################################################
 defmodule LoggerLogstashBackend do
+  alias LoggerLogstashBackend.Socket
+
   use GenEvent
   use Timex
 
+  # Struct
+
+  defstruct ~w(
+               host
+               level
+               metadata
+               name
+               port
+               protocol
+               socket
+               type
+             )a
+
+  # Functions
+
+  ## GenEvent callbacks
+
   def init({__MODULE__, name}) do
-    {:ok, configure(name, [])}
+    # trap exits, so that cleanup can occur in terminate/2
+    Process.flag(:trap_exit, true)
+
+    configure(name, [])
   end
 
   def handle_call({:configure, opts}, %{name: name}) do
-    {:ok, :ok, configure(name, opts)}
+    case configure(name, opts) do
+      {:ok, state} ->
+        {:ok, :ok, state}
+      reply = {:error, _reason} ->
+        {:remove_handler, reply}
+    end
   end
 
   def handle_event(
@@ -30,17 +57,37 @@ defmodule LoggerLogstashBackend do
   ) do
     if is_nil(min_level) or Logger.compare_levels(level, min_level) != :lt do
       log_event level, msg, ts, md, state
+    else
+      {:ok, state}
     end
+  end
+
+  def handle_info({:tcp_closed, socket}, state = %__MODULE__{socket: socket}) do
+    case configure_socket(state) do
+      {:error, _} -> {:ok, %{state | socket: nil}}
+      other -> other
+    end
+  end
+
+  def handle_info(_, state) do
     {:ok, state}
   end
 
+  @doc """
+  Closes socket when the backend is removed
+  """
+  def terminate(_, state)  do
+    :ok = Socket.close(state)
+
+    state
+  end
+
+  ## Private Functions
+
   defp log_event(
-    level, msg, ts, md, %{
-      host: host,
-      port: port,
+    level, msg, ts, md, state = %{
       type: type,
-      metadata: metadata,
-      socket: socket
+      metadata: metadata
     }
   ) do
     fields = md
@@ -56,10 +103,11 @@ defmodule LoggerLogstashBackend do
       message: to_string(msg),
       fields: fields
     }
-    :gen_udp.send socket, host, port, to_char_list(json)
+
+    send_with_retry(state, json)
   end
 
-  defp configure(name, opts) do
+  defp configure(name, opts) when is_atom(name) and is_list(opts) do
     env = Application.get_env :logger, name, []
     opts = Keyword.merge env, opts
     Application.put_env :logger, name, opts
@@ -69,16 +117,34 @@ defmodule LoggerLogstashBackend do
     type = Keyword.get opts, :type, "elixir"
     host = Keyword.get opts, :host
     port = Keyword.get opts, :port
-    {:ok, socket} = :gen_udp.open 0
-    %{
-      name: name,
-      host: to_char_list(host),
-      port: port,
-      level: level,
-      socket: socket,
-      type: type,
-      metadata: metadata
-    }
+    protocol = Keyword.get opts, :protocol, :udp
+
+    state = %__MODULE__{level: level, metadata: metadata, name: name, protocol: protocol, type: type}
+            |> put_destination(host, port)
+
+    new_state = case configure_socket(state) do
+      {:error, _} -> state
+      {:ok, configured_state} -> configured_state
+    end
+
+    {:ok, new_state}
+  end
+
+  defp configure_socket(state = %__MODULE__{}) do
+    case Socket.open state do
+      reply = {:error, reason} ->
+        IO.puts :stderr, "Could not open socket (#{url(state)}) due to reason #{inspect reason}"
+
+        reply
+      other ->
+        other
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp fallback_log(state, json, reason) do
+    IO.puts :stderr,
+            "Could not log message (#{json}) to socket (#{url(state)}) due to #{inspect reason}.  " <>
+            "Check that state (#{inspect state}) is correct."
   end
 
   # inspects the argument only if it is a pid
@@ -91,4 +157,36 @@ defmodule LoggerLogstashBackend do
       {key, inspect_pid(value)}
     end
   end
+
+  defp put_destination(state = %__MODULE__{}, host, port) when is_nil(host) or is_nil(port), do: state
+  defp put_destination(state = %__MODULE__{}, host, port), do: %{state | host: to_char_list(host), port: port}
+
+  defp send_with_retry(state = %__MODULE__{socket: nil}, json), do: send_with_new_socket(state, json)
+  defp send_with_retry(state, json) do
+    case Socket.send(state, [json, "\n"]) do
+      :ok ->
+        {:ok, state}
+      {:error, :closed} ->
+        send_with_new_socket(state, json)
+      {:error, reason} ->
+        fallback_log(state, json, reason)
+
+        {:ok, state}
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp send_with_new_socket(state, json) do
+    case configure_socket(state) do
+      {:error, reason} ->
+        fallback_log(state, json, reason)
+
+        {:ok, state}
+      {:ok, new_state} ->
+        send_with_retry(new_state, json)
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp url(%__MODULE__{host: host, port: port, protocol: protocol}) do
+    "#{protocol}://#{host}:#{port}"
+  end
 end
diff --git a/lib/logger_logstash_backend/socket.ex b/lib/logger_logstash_backend/socket.ex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4230030
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/logger_logstash_backend/socket.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+defmodule LoggerLogstashBackend.Socket do
+  @moduledoc """
+  Hides differences between `:udp` and `:tcp` sockets, so that protocol can be chosen in configuration
+  """
+
+  # Types
+
+  @type protocol :: :tcp | :udp
+
+  # Functions
+
+  @doc """
+  Closes the `protocol` `socket`
+  """
+  @spec close(map) :: :ok
+
+  def close(%{socket: socket}), do: :inet.close(socket)
+
+  @doc """
+  Opens a `protocol` socket using [`:gen_tcp.connect/3`](http://erlang.org/doc/man/gen_tcp.html#connect-3) or
+  [`:gen_udp.open/1`](http://erlang.org/doc/man/gen_udp.html#open-1).
+  """
+  @spec open(map) :: {:ok, map} | {:error, :inet.posix}
+
+  def open(map = %{host: host, port: port, protocol: :tcp}) do
+    host
+    |> :gen_tcp.connect(port, [{:active, true}, :binary, {:keepalive, true}])
+    |> put_socket(map)
+  end
+
+  def open(map = %{protocol: :udp}) do
+    0
+    |> :gen_udp.open
+    |> put_socket(map)
+  end
+
+  @doc """
+  Sends a `protocol` message over `socket`.
+  """
+  @spec send(map, iodata) :: :ok | {:error, :closed | :not_owner | :inet.posix}
+  def send(%{protocol: :tcp, socket: socket}, packet), do: :gen_tcp.send(socket, packet)
+  def send(%{host: host, port: port, protocol: :udp, socket: socket}, packet) do
+    :gen_udp.send(socket, host, port, packet)
+  end
+
+  ## Private Functions
+
+  defp put_socket({:ok, socket}, map), do: {:ok, Map.put(map, :socket, socket)}
+  defp put_socket(other, _), do: other
+end
diff --git a/test/logger_logstash_backend/tcp_test.exs b/test/logger_logstash_backend/tcp_test.exs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd9a802
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/logger_logstash_backend/tcp_test.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,263 @@
+################################################################################
+# Copyright 2015 Marcelo Gornstein <marcelog@gmail.com>
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+################################################################################
+defmodule LoggerLogstashBackend.TCPTest do
+  use ExUnit.Case, async: false
+  require Logger
+  use Timex
+
+  import ExUnit.CaptureIO
+
+  # Functions
+
+  def accept(listen_socket), do: :gen_tcp.accept(listen_socket, 1_000)
+
+  def assert_logged_to_stderr(message) do
+    assert capture_logger_info(message) =~ message
+  end
+
+  def capture_logger_info(message) do
+    capture_io :stderr, fn ->
+      Logger.info message
+      :timer.sleep 100
+    end
+  end
+
+  def capture_setup_backend(context) do
+    capture_io :stderr, fn ->
+      context
+      |> Map.put(:backend, true)
+      |> setup_backend
+    end
+  end
+
+  def listen(port \\ 0) do
+    :gen_tcp.listen port, [:binary, {:active, true}, {:ip, {127, 0, 0, 1}}, {:reuseaddr, true}]
+  end
+
+  def setup_accept(context = %{accept: true}) do
+    %{listen_socket: listen_socket} = context
+
+    {:ok, accept_socket} = accept(listen_socket)
+
+    on_exit fn ->
+      :ok = :gen_tcp.close accept_socket
+    end
+
+    Map.put(context, :accept_socket, accept_socket)
+  end
+  def setup_accept(context), do: context
+
+  def setup_backend(context = %{backend: true}) do
+    # don't include in function head so that backend true will always match even if forgot to populate :port
+    %{line: line, port: port} = context
+
+    backend = {LoggerLogstashBackend, String.to_atom("#{inspect __MODULE__}:#{line}")}
+
+    Logger.add_backend backend
+    Logger.configure_backend backend, [
+      host: "127.0.0.1",
+      port: port,
+      level: :info,
+      type: "some_app",
+      metadata: [
+        some_metadata: "go here"
+      ],
+      protocol: :tcp
+    ]
+
+    on_exit fn ->
+      Logger.remove_backend backend
+    end
+
+    context
+  end
+  def setup_backend(context), do: context
+
+  def setup_listen(context = %{listen: true}) do
+    {:ok, listen_socket} = listen
+    {:ok, port} = :inet.port(listen_socket)
+
+    on_exit fn ->
+      :ok = :gen_tcp.close listen_socket
+    end
+
+    context
+    |> Map.put(:listen_socket, listen_socket)
+    |> Map.put(:port, port)
+  end
+  def setup_listen(context), do: context
+
+  # Callbacks
+
+  setup context do
+    full_context = context
+                   # have to open socket before configure_backend, so that it is listening when connect happens
+                   |> setup_listen
+                   |> setup_backend
+                   |> setup_accept
+
+    {:ok, full_context}
+  end
+
+  @tag :accept
+  @tag :backend
+  @tag :listen
+  test "can log" do
+    Logger.info "hello world", [key1: "field1"]
+
+    assert {:ok, data} = JSX.decode get_log!
+    assert data["type"] === "some_app"
+    assert data["message"] === "hello world"
+
+    fields = data["fields"]
+
+    assert fields["function"] == "test can log/1"
+    assert fields["key1"] == "field1"
+    assert fields["level"] == "info"
+    assert fields["line"] == 119
+    assert fields["module"] == to_string(__MODULE__)
+    assert fields["pid"] == inspect(self)
+    assert fields["some_metadata"] == "go here"
+
+    {:ok, ts} = Timex.parse data["@timestamp"], "%FT%T%z", :strftime
+    ts = Timex.to_unix ts
+
+    now = Timex.to_unix Timex.DateTime.local
+    assert (now - ts) < 1000
+  end
+
+  @tag :accept
+  @tag :backend
+  @tag :listen
+  test "can log pids" do
+    Logger.info "pid", [pid_key: self]
+
+    {:ok, data} = JSX.decode get_log!
+    assert data["type"] === "some_app"
+    assert data["message"] === "pid"
+
+    fields = data["fields"]
+
+    assert fields["function"] == "test can log pids/1"
+    assert fields["pid_key"] == inspect(self)
+    assert fields["level"] == "info"
+    assert fields["line"] == 146
+    assert fields["module"] == to_string(__MODULE__)
+    assert fields["pid"] == inspect(self)
+    assert fields["some_metadata"] == "go here"
+
+    {:ok, ts} = Timex.parse data["@timestamp"], "%FT%T%z", :strftime
+    ts = Timex.to_unix ts
+
+    now = Timex.to_unix Timex.DateTime.local
+    assert (now - ts) < 1000
+  end
+
+  @tag :accept
+  @tag :backend
+  @tag :listen
+  test "cant log when minor levels" do
+    Logger.debug "hello world", [key1: "field1"]
+    {:error, :nothing_received} = get_log
+  end
+
+  @tag :accept
+  @tag :backend
+  @tag :listen
+  test "it reconnects if disconnected", %{accept_socket: accept_socket, listen_socket: listen_socket} do
+    :ok = :gen_tcp.close accept_socket
+
+    assert {:ok, _} = :gen_tcp.accept(listen_socket, 1_000)
+  end
+
+  @tag :accept
+  @tag :backend
+  @tag :listen
+  test "it reconnects on send if disconnected and listening socket is closed " <>
+       "when handle_info({:tcp_closed, _}, _) is called",
+       %{accept_socket: accept_socket, listen_socket: listen_socket, port: port} do
+    :ok = :gen_tcp.close listen_socket
+    :ok = :gen_tcp.close accept_socket
+
+    # suppress error messages not being tested
+    capture_logger_info "Can't connect"
+
+    {:ok, new_listen_socket} = listen(port)
+
+    # Need to accept and wait in a separate process because connect won't come until the Logger.info call tries to
+    # establish a new socket
+    pid = self
+    spawn_link fn ->
+      {:ok, new_accept_socket} = accept(new_listen_socket)
+
+      send pid, {:new_accept_socket, new_accept_socket}
+
+      receive do
+        # forward to pid so that get_log! works as normal
+        message = {:tcp, _, _} -> send pid, message
+      end
+    end
+
+    Logger.info "I reconnected"
+
+    assert_receive {:new_accept_socket, _}
+
+    :timer.sleep 100
+
+    {:ok, data} = JSX.decode get_log!
+
+    assert data["message"] == "I reconnected"
+  end
+
+  @tag :accept
+  @tag :backend
+  @tag :listen
+  test "if it can't reconnect, then is prints to :stderr",
+       %{accept_socket: accept_socket, listen_socket: listen_socket} do
+    :ok = :gen_tcp.close listen_socket
+    :ok = :gen_tcp.close accept_socket
+
+    assert_logged_to_stderr("Logged to stderr")
+  end
+
+  @tag :listen
+  test "if it can't connect, then it prints to :stderr", context = %{listen_socket: listen_socket, port: port} do
+    :ok = :gen_tcp.close listen_socket
+
+    assert capture_setup_backend(context) =~ "Could not open socket (tcp://127.0.0.1:#{port}) due to reason :econnrefused\n"
+  end
+
+  @tag :listen
+  test "if it can't connect, then any log messages print to :stderr", context = %{listen_socket: listen_socket} do
+    :ok = :gen_tcp.close listen_socket
+    capture_setup_backend(context)
+
+    assert_logged_to_stderr("Logged to stderr")
+  end
+
+  defp get_log do
+    receive do
+      {:tcp, _socket, json} -> {:ok, json}
+    after 500 -> {:error, :nothing_received}
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp get_log! do
+    {:ok, log} = get_log
+
+    log
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/logger_logstash_backend_test.exs b/test/logger_logstash_backend/udp_test.exs
similarity index 67%
rename from test/logger_logstash_backend_test.exs
rename to test/logger_logstash_backend/udp_test.exs
index c40e60a..ba72089 100644
--- a/test/logger_logstash_backend_test.exs
+++ b/test/logger_logstash_backend/udp_test.exs
@@ -13,15 +13,15 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 ################################################################################
-defmodule LoggerLogstashBackendTest do
+defmodule LoggerLogstashBackend.UDPTest do
   use ExUnit.Case, async: false
   require Logger
   use Timex
 
-  @backend {LoggerLogstashBackend, :test}
-  Logger.add_backend @backend
+  @backend {LoggerLogstashBackend, :udp_test}
 
   setup do
+    Logger.add_backend @backend
     Logger.configure_backend @backend, [
       host: "127.0.0.1",
       port: 10001,
@@ -32,28 +32,32 @@ defmodule LoggerLogstashBackendTest do
       ]
     ]
     {:ok, socket} = :gen_udp.open 10001, [:binary, {:active, true}]
+
     on_exit fn ->
+      Logger.remove_backend @backend
       :ok = :gen_udp.close socket
     end
+
     :ok
   end
 
   test "can log" do
     Logger.info "hello world", [key1: "field1"]
-    json = get_log
-    {:ok, data} = JSX.decode json
+
+    assert {:ok, data} = JSX.decode get_log
     assert data["type"] === "some_app"
     assert data["message"] === "hello world"
-    expected = %{
-      "function" => "test can log/1",
-      "level" => "info",
-      "module" => "Elixir.LoggerLogstashBackendTest",
-      "pid" => (inspect self),
-      "some_metadata" => "go here",
-      "line" => 42,
-      "key1" => "field1"
-    }
-    assert contains?(data["fields"], expected)
+
+    fields = data["fields"]
+
+    assert fields["function"] == "test can log/1"
+    assert fields["key1"] == "field1"
+    assert fields["level"] == "info"
+    assert fields["line"] == 45
+    assert fields["module"] == to_string(__MODULE__)
+    assert fields["pid"] == inspect(self)
+    assert fields["some_metadata"] == "go here"
+
     {:ok, ts} = Timex.parse data["@timestamp"], "%FT%T%z", :strftime
     ts = Timex.to_unix ts
 
@@ -63,20 +67,21 @@ defmodule LoggerLogstashBackendTest do
 
   test "can log pids" do
     Logger.info "pid", [pid_key: self]
-    json = get_log
-    {:ok, data} = JSX.decode json
+
+    {:ok, data} = JSX.decode get_log
     assert data["type"] === "some_app"
     assert data["message"] === "pid"
-    expected = %{
-      "function" => "test can log pids/1",
-      "level" => "info",
-      "module" => "Elixir.LoggerLogstashBackendTest",
-      "pid" => (inspect self),
-      "pid_key" => inspect(self),
-      "some_metadata" => "go here",
-      "line" => 65
-    }
-    assert contains?(data["fields"], expected)
+
+    fields = data["fields"]
+
+    assert fields["function"] == "test can log pids/1"
+    assert fields["pid_key"] == inspect(self)
+    assert fields["level"] == "info"
+    assert fields["line"] == 69
+    assert fields["module"] == to_string(__MODULE__)
+    assert fields["pid"] == inspect(self)
+    assert fields["some_metadata"] == "go here"
+
     {:ok, ts} = Timex.parse data["@timestamp"], "%FT%T%z", :strftime
     ts = Timex.to_unix ts
 
@@ -91,14 +96,8 @@ defmodule LoggerLogstashBackendTest do
 
   defp get_log do
     receive do
-      {:udp, _, _, _, json} -> json
+      {:udp, _socket, _from_ip, _from_port, json} -> json
     after 500 -> :nothing_received
     end
   end
-
-  defp contains?(map1, map2) do
-    Enum.all?(Map.to_list(map2), fn {key, value} ->
-      Map.fetch!(map1, key) == value
-    end)
-  end
 end