diff --git a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/async_stream.h b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/async_stream.h
index 78fb7274e244e15105471a43c6d5fb5d128071fd..a607a4710605f1028e4e7a17cdf67b49411979bc 100644
--- a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/async_stream.h
+++ b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/async_stream.h
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ class ClientAsyncReader GRPC_FINAL : public ClientAsyncReaderInterface<R> {
                     const W& request, void* tag)
       : context_(context), call_(channel->CreateCall(method, context, cq)) {
     init_ops_.set_output_tag(tag);
-    init_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_);
+    init_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_,
+                                  context->initial_metadata_flags());
     // TODO(ctiller): don't assert
     GPR_CODEGEN_ASSERT(init_ops_.SendMessage(request).ok());
     init_ops_.ClientSendClose();
@@ -173,7 +174,8 @@ class ClientAsyncWriter GRPC_FINAL : public ClientAsyncWriterInterface<W> {
     finish_ops_.RecvMessage(response);
 
     init_ops_.set_output_tag(tag);
-    init_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_);
+    init_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_,
+                                  context->initial_metadata_flags());
     call_.PerformOps(&init_ops_);
   }
 
@@ -240,7 +242,8 @@ class ClientAsyncReaderWriter GRPC_FINAL
                           void* tag)
       : context_(context), call_(channel->CreateCall(method, context, cq)) {
     init_ops_.set_output_tag(tag);
-    init_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_);
+    init_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_,
+                                  context->initial_metadata_flags());
     call_.PerformOps(&init_ops_);
   }
 
@@ -305,7 +308,8 @@ class ServerAsyncReader GRPC_FINAL : public ServerAsyncStreamingInterface,
     GPR_CODEGEN_ASSERT(!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_);
 
     meta_ops_.set_output_tag(tag);
-    meta_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+    meta_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                                  ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
     ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     call_.PerformOps(&meta_ops_);
   }
@@ -319,7 +323,8 @@ class ServerAsyncReader GRPC_FINAL : public ServerAsyncStreamingInterface,
   void Finish(const W& msg, const Status& status, void* tag) {
     finish_ops_.set_output_tag(tag);
     if (!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      finish_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+      finish_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                                      ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
       ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     }
     // The response is dropped if the status is not OK.
@@ -336,7 +341,8 @@ class ServerAsyncReader GRPC_FINAL : public ServerAsyncStreamingInterface,
     GPR_CODEGEN_ASSERT(!status.ok());
     finish_ops_.set_output_tag(tag);
     if (!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      finish_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+      finish_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                                      ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
       ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     }
     finish_ops_.ServerSendStatus(ctx_->trailing_metadata_, status);
@@ -366,7 +372,8 @@ class ServerAsyncWriter GRPC_FINAL : public ServerAsyncStreamingInterface,
     GPR_CODEGEN_ASSERT(!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_);
 
     meta_ops_.set_output_tag(tag);
-    meta_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+    meta_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                                  ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
     ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     call_.PerformOps(&meta_ops_);
   }
@@ -374,7 +381,8 @@ class ServerAsyncWriter GRPC_FINAL : public ServerAsyncStreamingInterface,
   void Write(const W& msg, void* tag) GRPC_OVERRIDE {
     write_ops_.set_output_tag(tag);
     if (!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      write_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+      write_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                                     ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
       ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     }
     // TODO(ctiller): don't assert
@@ -385,7 +393,8 @@ class ServerAsyncWriter GRPC_FINAL : public ServerAsyncStreamingInterface,
   void Finish(const Status& status, void* tag) {
     finish_ops_.set_output_tag(tag);
     if (!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      finish_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+      finish_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                                      ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
       ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     }
     finish_ops_.ServerSendStatus(ctx_->trailing_metadata_, status);
@@ -415,7 +424,8 @@ class ServerAsyncReaderWriter GRPC_FINAL : public ServerAsyncStreamingInterface,
     GPR_CODEGEN_ASSERT(!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_);
 
     meta_ops_.set_output_tag(tag);
-    meta_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+    meta_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                                  ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
     ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     call_.PerformOps(&meta_ops_);
   }
@@ -429,7 +439,8 @@ class ServerAsyncReaderWriter GRPC_FINAL : public ServerAsyncStreamingInterface,
   void Write(const W& msg, void* tag) GRPC_OVERRIDE {
     write_ops_.set_output_tag(tag);
     if (!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      write_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+      write_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                                     ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
       ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     }
     // TODO(ctiller): don't assert
@@ -440,7 +451,8 @@ class ServerAsyncReaderWriter GRPC_FINAL : public ServerAsyncStreamingInterface,
   void Finish(const Status& status, void* tag) {
     finish_ops_.set_output_tag(tag);
     if (!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      finish_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+      finish_ops_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                                      ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
       ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     }
     finish_ops_.ServerSendStatus(ctx_->trailing_metadata_, status);
diff --git a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/async_unary_call.h b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/async_unary_call.h
index 52b34770a80df75513a58436e4e266a7d660a5b0..55c9788fbd4c754e3ff96c2cb95293f91e3f0b15 100644
--- a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/async_unary_call.h
+++ b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/async_unary_call.h
@@ -67,7 +67,8 @@ class ClientAsyncResponseReader GRPC_FINAL
         call_(channel->CreateCall(method, context, cq)),
         collection_(new CallOpSetCollection) {
     collection_->init_buf_.SetCollection(collection_);
-    collection_->init_buf_.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_);
+    collection_->init_buf_.SendInitialMetadata(
+        context->send_initial_metadata_, context->initial_metadata_flags());
     // TODO(ctiller): don't assert
     GPR_CODEGEN_ASSERT(collection_->init_buf_.SendMessage(request).ok());
     collection_->init_buf_.ClientSendClose();
@@ -122,7 +123,8 @@ class ServerAsyncResponseWriter GRPC_FINAL
     GPR_CODEGEN_ASSERT(!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_);
 
     meta_buf_.set_output_tag(tag);
-    meta_buf_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+    meta_buf_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                                  ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
     ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     call_.PerformOps(&meta_buf_);
   }
@@ -130,7 +132,8 @@ class ServerAsyncResponseWriter GRPC_FINAL
   void Finish(const W& msg, const Status& status, void* tag) {
     finish_buf_.set_output_tag(tag);
     if (!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      finish_buf_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+      finish_buf_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                                      ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
       ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     }
     // The response is dropped if the status is not OK.
@@ -147,7 +150,8 @@ class ServerAsyncResponseWriter GRPC_FINAL
     GPR_CODEGEN_ASSERT(!status.ok());
     finish_buf_.set_output_tag(tag);
     if (!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      finish_buf_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+      finish_buf_.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                                      ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
       ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     }
     finish_buf_.ServerSendStatus(ctx_->trailing_metadata_, status);
diff --git a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/call.h b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/call.h
index f76d7c23ed44e358f82be7341937823a8abbe481..aea1a6acec7b5e0cafc6357aa165b4a7cd6ce58e 100644
--- a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/call.h
+++ b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/call.h
@@ -181,8 +181,10 @@ class CallOpSendInitialMetadata {
   CallOpSendInitialMetadata() : send_(false) {}
 
   void SendInitialMetadata(
-      const std::multimap<grpc::string, grpc::string>& metadata) {
+      const std::multimap<grpc::string, grpc::string>& metadata,
+      uint32_t flags) {
     send_ = true;
+    flags_ = flags;
     initial_metadata_count_ = metadata.size();
     initial_metadata_ = FillMetadataArray(metadata);
   }
@@ -192,7 +194,7 @@ class CallOpSendInitialMetadata {
     if (!send_) return;
     grpc_op* op = &ops[(*nops)++];
     op->op = GRPC_OP_SEND_INITIAL_METADATA;
-    op->flags = 0;
+    op->flags = flags_;
     op->reserved = NULL;
     op->data.send_initial_metadata.count = initial_metadata_count_;
     op->data.send_initial_metadata.metadata = initial_metadata_;
@@ -204,6 +206,7 @@ class CallOpSendInitialMetadata {
   }
 
   bool send_;
+  uint32_t flags_;
   size_t initial_metadata_count_;
   grpc_metadata* initial_metadata_;
 };
diff --git a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/client_context.h b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/client_context.h
index 52018086007ec51b0201c5db7d99f4c2ec999f8f..aed12767a7099de2e459be37129c791ee8918553 100644
--- a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/client_context.h
+++ b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/client_context.h
@@ -221,6 +221,12 @@ class ClientContext {
     deadline_ = deadline_tp.raw_time();
   }
 
+  /// EXPERIMENTAL: Set this request to be idempotent
+  void set_idempotent(bool idempotent) { idempotent_ = idempotent; }
+
+  /// EXPERIMENTAL: Trigger fail-fast or not on this request
+  void set_fail_fast(bool fail_fast) { fail_fast_ = fail_fast; }
+
 #ifndef GRPC_CXX0X_NO_CHRONO
   /// Return the deadline for the client call.
   std::chrono::system_clock::time_point deadline() {
@@ -328,9 +334,16 @@ class ClientContext {
   grpc_call* call() { return call_; }
   void set_call(grpc_call* call, const std::shared_ptr<Channel>& channel);
 
+  uint32_t initial_metadata_flags() const {
+    return (idempotent_ ? GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IDEMPOTENT_REQUEST : 0) |
+           (fail_fast_ ? 0 : GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IGNORE_CONNECTIVITY);
+  }
+
   grpc::string authority() { return authority_; }
 
   bool initial_metadata_received_;
+  bool fail_fast_;
+  bool idempotent_;
   std::shared_ptr<Channel> channel_;
   grpc::mutex mu_;
   grpc_call* call_;
diff --git a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/client_unary_call.h b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/client_unary_call.h
index 0ee5b198d2412d99c471de89a99718fa0a08369f..70d65549c80e9c2184aaf107f4a8bde55a97a9c1 100644
--- a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/client_unary_call.h
+++ b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/client_unary_call.h
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ Status BlockingUnaryCall(ChannelInterface* channel, const RpcMethod& method,
   if (!status.ok()) {
     return status;
   }
-  ops.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_);
+  ops.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_,
+                          context->initial_metadata_flags());
   ops.RecvInitialMetadata(context);
   ops.RecvMessage(result);
   ops.ClientSendClose();
diff --git a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/method_handler_impl.h b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/method_handler_impl.h
index 436b4d819b7c64046dc218a15a7114704bfd6ade..ad74efabc4ba1f595ec2d9c2ca44ab10188afcbe 100644
--- a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/method_handler_impl.h
+++ b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/method_handler_impl.h
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ class RpcMethodHandler : public MethodHandler {
     CallOpSet<CallOpSendInitialMetadata, CallOpSendMessage,
               CallOpServerSendStatus>
         ops;
-    ops.SendInitialMetadata(param.server_context->initial_metadata_);
+    ops.SendInitialMetadata(param.server_context->initial_metadata_,
+                            param.server_context->initial_metadata_flags());
     if (status.ok()) {
       status = ops.SendMessage(rsp);
     }
@@ -100,7 +101,8 @@ class ClientStreamingHandler : public MethodHandler {
     CallOpSet<CallOpSendInitialMetadata, CallOpSendMessage,
               CallOpServerSendStatus>
         ops;
-    ops.SendInitialMetadata(param.server_context->initial_metadata_);
+    ops.SendInitialMetadata(param.server_context->initial_metadata_,
+                            param.server_context->initial_metadata_flags());
     if (status.ok()) {
       status = ops.SendMessage(rsp);
     }
@@ -138,7 +140,8 @@ class ServerStreamingHandler : public MethodHandler {
 
     CallOpSet<CallOpSendInitialMetadata, CallOpServerSendStatus> ops;
     if (!param.server_context->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      ops.SendInitialMetadata(param.server_context->initial_metadata_);
+      ops.SendInitialMetadata(param.server_context->initial_metadata_,
+                              param.server_context->initial_metadata_flags());
     }
     ops.ServerSendStatus(param.server_context->trailing_metadata_, status);
     param.call->PerformOps(&ops);
@@ -170,7 +173,8 @@ class BidiStreamingHandler : public MethodHandler {
 
     CallOpSet<CallOpSendInitialMetadata, CallOpServerSendStatus> ops;
     if (!param.server_context->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      ops.SendInitialMetadata(param.server_context->initial_metadata_);
+      ops.SendInitialMetadata(param.server_context->initial_metadata_,
+                              param.server_context->initial_metadata_flags());
     }
     ops.ServerSendStatus(param.server_context->trailing_metadata_, status);
     param.call->PerformOps(&ops);
@@ -191,7 +195,8 @@ class UnknownMethodHandler : public MethodHandler {
   static void FillOps(ServerContext* context, T* ops) {
     Status status(StatusCode::UNIMPLEMENTED, "");
     if (!context->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      ops->SendInitialMetadata(context->initial_metadata_);
+      ops->SendInitialMetadata(context->initial_metadata_,
+                               context->initial_metadata_flags());
       context->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     }
     ops->ServerSendStatus(context->trailing_metadata_, status);
diff --git a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/server_context.h b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/server_context.h
index 44d340aa454cbefa7e6c2bee3c693649c29ff65a..7fa0235ca90828dec3d8a1cfc0006aba1d51b3af 100644
--- a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/server_context.h
+++ b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/server_context.h
@@ -195,6 +195,8 @@ class ServerContext {
 
   void set_call(grpc_call* call);
 
+  uint32_t initial_metadata_flags() const { return 0; }
+
   CompletionOp* completion_op_;
   bool has_notify_when_done_tag_;
   void* async_notify_when_done_tag_;
diff --git a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/sync_stream.h b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/sync_stream.h
index d0ad05169f4824116bfd806fa8d65811476eeb9a..9100ce09a2319649de19388b637021341d203897 100644
--- a/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/sync_stream.h
+++ b/include/grpc++/impl/codegen/sync_stream.h
@@ -125,7 +125,8 @@ class ClientReader GRPC_FINAL : public ClientReaderInterface<R> {
     CallOpSet<CallOpSendInitialMetadata, CallOpSendMessage,
               CallOpClientSendClose>
         ops;
-    ops.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_);
+    ops.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_,
+                            context->initial_metadata_flags());
     // TODO(ctiller): don't assert
     GPR_CODEGEN_ASSERT(ops.SendMessage(request).ok());
     ops.ClientSendClose();
@@ -190,7 +191,8 @@ class ClientWriter : public ClientWriterInterface<W> {
     finish_ops_.RecvMessage(response);
 
     CallOpSet<CallOpSendInitialMetadata> ops;
-    ops.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_);
+    ops.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_,
+                            context->initial_metadata_flags());
     call_.PerformOps(&ops);
     cq_.Pluck(&ops);
   }
@@ -268,7 +270,8 @@ class ClientReaderWriter GRPC_FINAL : public ClientReaderWriterInterface<W, R> {
                      ClientContext* context)
       : context_(context), call_(channel->CreateCall(method, context, &cq_)) {
     CallOpSet<CallOpSendInitialMetadata> ops;
-    ops.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_);
+    ops.SendInitialMetadata(context->send_initial_metadata_,
+                            context->initial_metadata_flags());
     call_.PerformOps(&ops);
     cq_.Pluck(&ops);
   }
@@ -334,7 +337,8 @@ class ServerReader GRPC_FINAL : public ReaderInterface<R> {
     GPR_CODEGEN_ASSERT(!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_);
 
     CallOpSet<CallOpSendInitialMetadata> ops;
-    ops.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+    ops.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                            ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
     ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     call_->PerformOps(&ops);
     call_->cq()->Pluck(&ops);
@@ -361,7 +365,8 @@ class ServerWriter GRPC_FINAL : public WriterInterface<W> {
     GPR_CODEGEN_ASSERT(!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_);
 
     CallOpSet<CallOpSendInitialMetadata> ops;
-    ops.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+    ops.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                            ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
     ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     call_->PerformOps(&ops);
     call_->cq()->Pluck(&ops);
@@ -374,7 +379,8 @@ class ServerWriter GRPC_FINAL : public WriterInterface<W> {
       return false;
     }
     if (!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      ops.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+      ops.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                              ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
       ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     }
     call_->PerformOps(&ops);
@@ -397,7 +403,8 @@ class ServerReaderWriter GRPC_FINAL : public WriterInterface<W>,
     GPR_CODEGEN_ASSERT(!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_);
 
     CallOpSet<CallOpSendInitialMetadata> ops;
-    ops.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+    ops.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                            ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
     ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     call_->PerformOps(&ops);
     call_->cq()->Pluck(&ops);
@@ -417,7 +424,8 @@ class ServerReaderWriter GRPC_FINAL : public WriterInterface<W>,
       return false;
     }
     if (!ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_) {
-      ops.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_);
+      ops.SendInitialMetadata(ctx_->initial_metadata_,
+                              ctx_->initial_metadata_flags());
       ctx_->sent_initial_metadata_ = true;
     }
     call_->PerformOps(&ops);
diff --git a/include/grpc/impl/codegen/grpc_types.h b/include/grpc/impl/codegen/grpc_types.h
index b09b1cdf441eaa96b291981522e45038c8456d6a..e3e882c8b3ce5c8631d6c52e093b60e56fd36469 100644
--- a/include/grpc/impl/codegen/grpc_types.h
+++ b/include/grpc/impl/codegen/grpc_types.h
@@ -202,8 +202,12 @@ typedef enum grpc_call_error {
 /* Initial metadata flags */
 /** Signal that the call is idempotent */
 #define GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IDEMPOTENT_REQUEST (0x00000010u)
+/** Signal that the call should not return UNAVAILABLE before it has started */
+#define GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IGNORE_CONNECTIVITY (0x00000020u)
 /** Mask of all valid flags */
-#define GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_USED_MASK GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IDEMPOTENT_REQUEST
+#define GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_USED_MASK       \
+  (GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IDEMPOTENT_REQUEST | \
+   GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IGNORE_CONNECTIVITY)
 
 /** A single metadata element */
 typedef struct grpc_metadata {
diff --git a/src/core/ext/client_config/client_channel.c b/src/core/ext/client_config/client_channel.c
index 0ff67a7d8704d6bce6f9d9f8e5d326915abbe3cd..3b2f7b87856021634810c468005499b2011cd4ba 100644
--- a/src/core/ext/client_config/client_channel.c
+++ b/src/core/ext/client_config/client_channel.c
@@ -114,6 +114,22 @@ static void watch_lb_policy(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, channel_data *chand,
                             grpc_lb_policy *lb_policy,
                             grpc_connectivity_state current_state);
 
+static void set_channel_connectivity_state_locked(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
+                                                  channel_data *chand,
+                                                  grpc_connectivity_state state,
+                                                  const char *reason) {
+  if ((state == GRPC_CHANNEL_TRANSIENT_FAILURE ||
+       state == GRPC_CHANNEL_FATAL_FAILURE) &&
+      chand->lb_policy != NULL) {
+    /* cancel fail-fast picks */
+    grpc_lb_policy_cancel_picks(
+        exec_ctx, chand->lb_policy,
+        /* mask= */ GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IGNORE_CONNECTIVITY,
+        /* check= */ 0);
+  }
+  grpc_connectivity_state_set(exec_ctx, &chand->state_tracker, state, reason);
+}
+
 static void on_lb_policy_state_changed_locked(
     grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, lb_policy_connectivity_watcher *w) {
   grpc_connectivity_state publish_state = w->state;
@@ -127,8 +143,8 @@ static void on_lb_policy_state_changed_locked(
     GRPC_LB_POLICY_UNREF(exec_ctx, w->chand->lb_policy, "channel");
     w->chand->lb_policy = NULL;
   }
-  grpc_connectivity_state_set(exec_ctx, &w->chand->state_tracker, publish_state,
-                              "lb_changed");
+  set_channel_connectivity_state_locked(exec_ctx, w->chand, publish_state,
+                                        "lb_changed");
   if (w->state != GRPC_CHANNEL_FATAL_FAILURE) {
     watch_lb_policy(exec_ctx, w->chand, w->lb_policy, w->state);
   }
@@ -200,8 +216,8 @@ static void cc_on_config_changed(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *arg,
   }
 
   if (iomgr_success && chand->resolver) {
-    grpc_connectivity_state_set(exec_ctx, &chand->state_tracker, state,
-                                "new_lb+resolver");
+    set_channel_connectivity_state_locked(exec_ctx, chand, state,
+                                          "new_lb+resolver");
     if (lb_policy != NULL) {
       watch_lb_policy(exec_ctx, chand, lb_policy, state);
     }
@@ -216,8 +232,8 @@ static void cc_on_config_changed(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *arg,
       GRPC_RESOLVER_UNREF(exec_ctx, chand->resolver, "channel");
       chand->resolver = NULL;
     }
-    grpc_connectivity_state_set(exec_ctx, &chand->state_tracker,
-                                GRPC_CHANNEL_FATAL_FAILURE, "resolver_gone");
+    set_channel_connectivity_state_locked(
+        exec_ctx, chand, GRPC_CHANNEL_FATAL_FAILURE, "resolver_gone");
     gpr_mu_unlock(&chand->mu_config);
   }
 
@@ -272,8 +288,8 @@ static void cc_start_transport_op(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
   }
 
   if (op->disconnect && chand->resolver != NULL) {
-    grpc_connectivity_state_set(exec_ctx, &chand->state_tracker,
-                                GRPC_CHANNEL_FATAL_FAILURE, "disconnect");
+    set_channel_connectivity_state_locked(
+        exec_ctx, chand, GRPC_CHANNEL_FATAL_FAILURE, "disconnect");
     grpc_resolver_shutdown(exec_ctx, chand->resolver);
     GRPC_RESOLVER_UNREF(exec_ctx, chand->resolver, "channel");
     chand->resolver = NULL;
@@ -290,6 +306,7 @@ static void cc_start_transport_op(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
 
 typedef struct {
   grpc_metadata_batch *initial_metadata;
+  uint32_t initial_metadata_flags;
   grpc_connected_subchannel **connected_subchannel;
   grpc_closure *on_ready;
   grpc_call_element *elem;
@@ -298,6 +315,7 @@ typedef struct {
 
 static int cc_pick_subchannel(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *arg,
                               grpc_metadata_batch *initial_metadata,
+                              uint32_t initial_metadata_flags,
                               grpc_connected_subchannel **connected_subchannel,
                               grpc_closure *on_ready);
 
@@ -308,6 +326,7 @@ static void continue_picking(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *arg, bool success) {
   } else if (cpa->connected_subchannel == NULL) {
     /* cancelled, do nothing */
   } else if (cc_pick_subchannel(exec_ctx, cpa->elem, cpa->initial_metadata,
+                                cpa->initial_metadata_flags,
                                 cpa->connected_subchannel, cpa->on_ready)) {
     grpc_exec_ctx_enqueue(exec_ctx, cpa->on_ready, true, NULL);
   }
@@ -316,6 +335,7 @@ static void continue_picking(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *arg, bool success) {
 
 static int cc_pick_subchannel(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *elemp,
                               grpc_metadata_batch *initial_metadata,
+                              uint32_t initial_metadata_flags,
                               grpc_connected_subchannel **connected_subchannel,
                               grpc_closure *on_ready) {
   grpc_call_element *elem = elemp;
@@ -349,7 +369,8 @@ static int cc_pick_subchannel(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *elemp,
     GRPC_LB_POLICY_REF(lb_policy, "cc_pick_subchannel");
     gpr_mu_unlock(&chand->mu_config);
     r = grpc_lb_policy_pick(exec_ctx, lb_policy, calld->pollset,
-                            initial_metadata, connected_subchannel, on_ready);
+                            initial_metadata, initial_metadata_flags,
+                            connected_subchannel, on_ready);
     GRPC_LB_POLICY_UNREF(exec_ctx, lb_policy, "cc_pick_subchannel");
     return r;
   }
@@ -362,6 +383,7 @@ static int cc_pick_subchannel(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *elemp,
   }
   cpa = gpr_malloc(sizeof(*cpa));
   cpa->initial_metadata = initial_metadata;
+  cpa->initial_metadata_flags = initial_metadata_flags;
   cpa->connected_subchannel = connected_subchannel;
   cpa->on_ready = on_ready;
   cpa->elem = elem;
diff --git a/src/core/ext/client_config/lb_policy.c b/src/core/ext/client_config/lb_policy.c
index 72c1cf250c5fe5cf278c512abe2d6aefa5ca38cf..a7ad9842dc344b74e46e1ce6cb4a62580d41d0f3 100644
--- a/src/core/ext/client_config/lb_policy.c
+++ b/src/core/ext/client_config/lb_policy.c
@@ -101,10 +101,11 @@ void grpc_lb_policy_weak_unref(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
 int grpc_lb_policy_pick(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *policy,
                         grpc_pollset *pollset,
                         grpc_metadata_batch *initial_metadata,
+                        uint32_t initial_metadata_flags,
                         grpc_connected_subchannel **target,
                         grpc_closure *on_complete) {
   return policy->vtable->pick(exec_ctx, policy, pollset, initial_metadata,
-                              target, on_complete);
+                              initial_metadata_flags, target, on_complete);
 }
 
 void grpc_lb_policy_cancel_pick(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *policy,
@@ -112,6 +113,14 @@ void grpc_lb_policy_cancel_pick(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *policy,
   policy->vtable->cancel_pick(exec_ctx, policy, target);
 }
 
+void grpc_lb_policy_cancel_picks(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
+                                 grpc_lb_policy *policy,
+                                 uint32_t initial_metadata_flags_mask,
+                                 uint32_t initial_metadata_flags_eq) {
+  policy->vtable->cancel_picks(exec_ctx, policy, initial_metadata_flags_mask,
+                               initial_metadata_flags_eq);
+}
+
 void grpc_lb_policy_exit_idle(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *policy) {
   policy->vtable->exit_idle(exec_ctx, policy);
 }
diff --git a/src/core/ext/client_config/lb_policy.h b/src/core/ext/client_config/lb_policy.h
index 44b715c7a1e1115aff9c41da600fdd8098592b50..0384e0b2ebe3b59d26cbb616467adcf889f4b705 100644
--- a/src/core/ext/client_config/lb_policy.h
+++ b/src/core/ext/client_config/lb_policy.h
@@ -60,9 +60,13 @@ struct grpc_lb_policy_vtable {
   /** implement grpc_lb_policy_pick */
   int (*pick)(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *policy,
               grpc_pollset *pollset, grpc_metadata_batch *initial_metadata,
+              uint32_t initial_metadata_flags,
               grpc_connected_subchannel **target, grpc_closure *on_complete);
   void (*cancel_pick)(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *policy,
                       grpc_connected_subchannel **target);
+  void (*cancel_picks)(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *policy,
+                       uint32_t initial_metadata_flags_mask,
+                       uint32_t initial_metadata_flags_eq);
 
   void (*ping_one)(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *policy,
                    grpc_closure *closure);
@@ -122,6 +126,7 @@ void grpc_lb_policy_init(grpc_lb_policy *policy,
 int grpc_lb_policy_pick(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *policy,
                         grpc_pollset *pollset,
                         grpc_metadata_batch *initial_metadata,
+                        uint32_t initial_metadata_flags,
                         grpc_connected_subchannel **target,
                         grpc_closure *on_complete);
 
@@ -131,6 +136,14 @@ void grpc_lb_policy_ping_one(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *policy,
 void grpc_lb_policy_cancel_pick(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *policy,
                                 grpc_connected_subchannel **target);
 
+/** Cancel all pending picks which have:
+    (initial_metadata_flags & initial_metadata_flags_mask) ==
+         initial_metadata_flags_eq */
+void grpc_lb_policy_cancel_picks(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
+                                 grpc_lb_policy *policy,
+                                 uint32_t initial_metadata_flags_mask,
+                                 uint32_t initial_metadata_flags_eq);
+
 void grpc_lb_policy_exit_idle(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *policy);
 
 void grpc_lb_policy_notify_on_state_change(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
diff --git a/src/core/ext/client_config/subchannel.c b/src/core/ext/client_config/subchannel.c
index 5285041dd58864e9db114897e57cb4ebbc325232..e6e3885e4083edac029443144928108ac9c0908e 100644
--- a/src/core/ext/client_config/subchannel.c
+++ b/src/core/ext/client_config/subchannel.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
 #define STRONG_REF_MASK (~(gpr_atm)((1 << INTERNAL_REF_BITS) - 1))
 
 #define GRPC_SUBCHANNEL_MIN_CONNECT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS 20
-#define GRPC_SUBCHANNEL_INITIAL_CONNECT_BACKOFF_SECONDS 1
+#define GRPC_SUBCHANNEL_INITIAL_CONNECT_BACKOFF_SECONDS 2
 #define GRPC_SUBCHANNEL_RECONNECT_BACKOFF_MULTIPLIER 1.6
 #define GRPC_SUBCHANNEL_RECONNECT_MAX_BACKOFF_SECONDS 120
 #define GRPC_SUBCHANNEL_RECONNECT_JITTER 0.2
diff --git a/src/core/ext/lb_policy/pick_first/pick_first.c b/src/core/ext/lb_policy/pick_first/pick_first.c
index cac62b81ea593e6ea2393831cea8512fe9fb3ecc..5926f9d70bf168a519cc25105f850c5f4538e5df 100644
--- a/src/core/ext/lb_policy/pick_first/pick_first.c
+++ b/src/core/ext/lb_policy/pick_first/pick_first.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 typedef struct pending_pick {
   struct pending_pick *next;
   grpc_pollset *pollset;
+  uint32_t initial_metadata_flags;
   grpc_connected_subchannel **target;
   grpc_closure *on_complete;
 } pending_pick;
@@ -149,6 +150,31 @@ static void pf_cancel_pick(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *pol,
   gpr_mu_unlock(&p->mu);
 }
 
+static void pf_cancel_picks(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *pol,
+                            uint32_t initial_metadata_flags_mask,
+                            uint32_t initial_metadata_flags_eq) {
+  pick_first_lb_policy *p = (pick_first_lb_policy *)pol;
+  pending_pick *pp;
+  gpr_mu_lock(&p->mu);
+  pp = p->pending_picks;
+  p->pending_picks = NULL;
+  while (pp != NULL) {
+    pending_pick *next = pp->next;
+    if ((pp->initial_metadata_flags & initial_metadata_flags_mask) ==
+        initial_metadata_flags_eq) {
+      grpc_pollset_set_del_pollset(exec_ctx, p->base.interested_parties,
+                                   pp->pollset);
+      grpc_exec_ctx_enqueue(exec_ctx, pp->on_complete, false, NULL);
+      gpr_free(pp);
+    } else {
+      pp->next = p->pending_picks;
+      p->pending_picks = pp;
+    }
+    pp = next;
+  }
+  gpr_mu_unlock(&p->mu);
+}
+
 static void start_picking(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, pick_first_lb_policy *p) {
   p->started_picking = 1;
   p->checking_subchannel = 0;
@@ -171,6 +197,7 @@ static void pf_exit_idle(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *pol) {
 
 static int pf_pick(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *pol,
                    grpc_pollset *pollset, grpc_metadata_batch *initial_metadata,
+                   uint32_t initial_metadata_flags,
                    grpc_connected_subchannel **target,
                    grpc_closure *on_complete) {
   pick_first_lb_policy *p = (pick_first_lb_policy *)pol;
@@ -199,6 +226,7 @@ static int pf_pick(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *pol,
     pp->next = p->pending_picks;
     pp->pollset = pollset;
     pp->target = target;
+    pp->initial_metadata_flags = initial_metadata_flags;
     pp->on_complete = on_complete;
     p->pending_picks = pp;
     gpr_mu_unlock(&p->mu);
@@ -286,11 +314,14 @@ static void pf_connectivity_changed(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *arg,
             &p->checking_connectivity, &p->connectivity_changed);
         break;
       case GRPC_CHANNEL_TRANSIENT_FAILURE:
-        grpc_connectivity_state_set(exec_ctx, &p->state_tracker,
-                                    GRPC_CHANNEL_TRANSIENT_FAILURE,
-                                    "connecting_transient_failure");
         p->checking_subchannel =
             (p->checking_subchannel + 1) % p->num_subchannels;
+        if (p->checking_subchannel == 0) {
+          /* only trigger transient failure when we've tried all alternatives */
+          grpc_connectivity_state_set(exec_ctx, &p->state_tracker,
+                                      GRPC_CHANNEL_TRANSIENT_FAILURE,
+                                      "connecting_transient_failure");
+        }
         p->checking_connectivity = grpc_subchannel_check_connectivity(
             p->subchannels[p->checking_subchannel]);
         if (p->checking_connectivity == GRPC_CHANNEL_TRANSIENT_FAILURE) {
@@ -378,14 +409,9 @@ static void pf_ping_one(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *pol,
 }
 
 static const grpc_lb_policy_vtable pick_first_lb_policy_vtable = {
-    pf_destroy,
-    pf_shutdown,
-    pf_pick,
-    pf_cancel_pick,
-    pf_ping_one,
-    pf_exit_idle,
-    pf_check_connectivity,
-    pf_notify_on_state_change};
+    pf_destroy,     pf_shutdown,           pf_pick,
+    pf_cancel_pick, pf_cancel_picks,       pf_ping_one,
+    pf_exit_idle,   pf_check_connectivity, pf_notify_on_state_change};
 
 static void pick_first_factory_ref(grpc_lb_policy_factory *factory) {}
 
diff --git a/src/core/ext/lb_policy/round_robin/round_robin.c b/src/core/ext/lb_policy/round_robin/round_robin.c
index 16f3942d3a3374a3a163a898170add558ef671dd..3f6051b8925145100aaa7a80f71cca62bf11d4f4 100644
--- a/src/core/ext/lb_policy/round_robin/round_robin.c
+++ b/src/core/ext/lb_policy/round_robin/round_robin.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ int grpc_lb_round_robin_trace = 0;
 typedef struct pending_pick {
   struct pending_pick *next;
   grpc_pollset *pollset;
+  uint32_t initial_metadata_flags;
   grpc_connected_subchannel **target;
   grpc_closure *on_complete;
 } pending_pick;
@@ -275,6 +276,32 @@ static void rr_cancel_pick(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *pol,
   gpr_mu_unlock(&p->mu);
 }
 
+static void rr_cancel_picks(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *pol,
+                            uint32_t initial_metadata_flags_mask,
+                            uint32_t initial_metadata_flags_eq) {
+  round_robin_lb_policy *p = (round_robin_lb_policy *)pol;
+  pending_pick *pp;
+  gpr_mu_lock(&p->mu);
+  pp = p->pending_picks;
+  p->pending_picks = NULL;
+  while (pp != NULL) {
+    pending_pick *next = pp->next;
+    if ((pp->initial_metadata_flags & initial_metadata_flags_mask) ==
+        initial_metadata_flags_eq) {
+      grpc_pollset_set_del_pollset(exec_ctx, p->base.interested_parties,
+                                   pp->pollset);
+      *pp->target = NULL;
+      grpc_exec_ctx_enqueue(exec_ctx, pp->on_complete, false, NULL);
+      gpr_free(pp);
+    } else {
+      pp->next = p->pending_picks;
+      p->pending_picks = pp;
+    }
+    pp = next;
+  }
+  gpr_mu_unlock(&p->mu);
+}
+
 static void start_picking(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, round_robin_lb_policy *p) {
   size_t i;
   p->started_picking = 1;
@@ -303,6 +330,7 @@ static void rr_exit_idle(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *pol) {
 
 static int rr_pick(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *pol,
                    grpc_pollset *pollset, grpc_metadata_batch *initial_metadata,
+                   uint32_t initial_metadata_flags,
                    grpc_connected_subchannel **target,
                    grpc_closure *on_complete) {
   round_robin_lb_policy *p = (round_robin_lb_policy *)pol;
@@ -330,6 +358,7 @@ static int rr_pick(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *pol,
     pp->pollset = pollset;
     pp->target = target;
     pp->on_complete = on_complete;
+    pp->initial_metadata_flags = initial_metadata_flags;
     p->pending_picks = pp;
     gpr_mu_unlock(&p->mu);
     return 0;
@@ -485,14 +514,9 @@ static void rr_ping_one(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_lb_policy *pol,
 }
 
 static const grpc_lb_policy_vtable round_robin_lb_policy_vtable = {
-    rr_destroy,
-    rr_shutdown,
-    rr_pick,
-    rr_cancel_pick,
-    rr_ping_one,
-    rr_exit_idle,
-    rr_check_connectivity,
-    rr_notify_on_state_change};
+    rr_destroy,     rr_shutdown,           rr_pick,
+    rr_cancel_pick, rr_cancel_picks,       rr_ping_one,
+    rr_exit_idle,   rr_check_connectivity, rr_notify_on_state_change};
 
 static void round_robin_factory_ref(grpc_lb_policy_factory *factory) {}
 
diff --git a/src/core/lib/channel/http_client_filter.c b/src/core/lib/channel/http_client_filter.c
index deba23e21f7c09033f88944726e31b5ba16911a5..211f537c6919b6e69da003c2dfb341d149079167 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/channel/http_client_filter.c
+++ b/src/core/lib/channel/http_client_filter.c
@@ -111,10 +111,12 @@ static void hc_mutate_op(grpc_call_element *elem,
                                elem);
     /* Send : prefixed headers, which have to be before any application
        layer headers. */
-    grpc_metadata_batch_add_head(op->send_initial_metadata, &calld->method,
-                                 op->send_idempotent_request
-                                     ? GRPC_MDELEM_METHOD_PUT
-                                     : GRPC_MDELEM_METHOD_POST);
+    grpc_metadata_batch_add_head(
+        op->send_initial_metadata, &calld->method,
+        op->send_initial_metadata_flags &
+                GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IDEMPOTENT_REQUEST
+            ? GRPC_MDELEM_METHOD_PUT
+            : GRPC_MDELEM_METHOD_POST);
     grpc_metadata_batch_add_head(op->send_initial_metadata, &calld->scheme,
                                  channeld->static_scheme);
     grpc_metadata_batch_add_tail(op->send_initial_metadata, &calld->te_trailers,
diff --git a/src/core/lib/channel/subchannel_call_holder.c b/src/core/lib/channel/subchannel_call_holder.c
index 22f3679bf5d91ea0f3b59a991106aeb360bf8fee..a2686a380a743958971e2b8235ece5ab8e00c8ec 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/channel/subchannel_call_holder.c
+++ b/src/core/lib/channel/subchannel_call_holder.c
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ retry:
           break;
         case GRPC_SUBCHANNEL_CALL_HOLDER_PICKING_SUBCHANNEL:
           holder->pick_subchannel(exec_ctx, holder->pick_subchannel_arg, NULL,
-                                  &holder->connected_subchannel, NULL);
+                                  0, &holder->connected_subchannel, NULL);
           break;
       }
       gpr_mu_unlock(&holder->mu);
@@ -145,7 +145,8 @@ retry:
     GRPC_CALL_STACK_REF(holder->owning_call, "pick_subchannel");
     if (holder->pick_subchannel(
             exec_ctx, holder->pick_subchannel_arg, op->send_initial_metadata,
-            &holder->connected_subchannel, &holder->next_step)) {
+            op->send_initial_metadata_flags, &holder->connected_subchannel,
+            &holder->next_step)) {
       holder->creation_phase = GRPC_SUBCHANNEL_CALL_HOLDER_NOT_CREATING;
       GRPC_CALL_STACK_UNREF(exec_ctx, holder->owning_call, "pick_subchannel");
     }
diff --git a/src/core/lib/channel/subchannel_call_holder.h b/src/core/lib/channel/subchannel_call_holder.h
index 8e3a99e40b25a458f1ea704246ed7ac1abd64e40..2107a06cd98ce9767a6ff96661e701631220b7e1 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/channel/subchannel_call_holder.h
+++ b/src/core/lib/channel/subchannel_call_holder.h
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
     called when the subchannel is available) */
 typedef int (*grpc_subchannel_call_holder_pick_subchannel)(
     grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *arg, grpc_metadata_batch *initial_metadata,
+    uint32_t initial_metadata_flags,
     grpc_connected_subchannel **connected_subchannel, grpc_closure *on_ready);
 
 typedef enum {
diff --git a/src/core/lib/surface/call.c b/src/core/lib/surface/call.c
index 37cc724b53f629cb446d20fc2a6fcc9701a18aaf..ba94852f9ad51d77499491c5c458c5abd353d89a 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/surface/call.c
+++ b/src/core/lib/surface/call.c
@@ -81,11 +81,11 @@ typedef enum {
   /* Status came from the application layer overriding whatever
      the wire says */
   STATUS_FROM_API_OVERRIDE = 0,
-  /* Status was created by some internal channel stack operation */
-  STATUS_FROM_CORE,
   /* Status came from 'the wire' - or somewhere below the surface
      layer */
   STATUS_FROM_WIRE,
+  /* Status was created by some internal channel stack operation */
+  STATUS_FROM_CORE,
   /* Status came from the server sending status */
   STATUS_FROM_SERVER_STATUS,
   STATUS_SOURCE_COUNT
@@ -1110,6 +1110,9 @@ static void finish_batch(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *bctlp, bool success) {
 
   gpr_mu_lock(&call->mu);
   if (bctl->send_initial_metadata) {
+    if (!success) {
+      set_status_code(call, STATUS_FROM_CORE, GRPC_STATUS_UNAVAILABLE);
+    }
     grpc_metadata_batch_destroy(
         &call->metadata_batch[0 /* is_receiving */][0 /* is_trailing */]);
   }
@@ -1232,8 +1235,7 @@ static grpc_call_error call_start_batch(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
         call->metadata_batch[0][0].deadline = call->send_deadline;
         stream_op.send_initial_metadata =
             &call->metadata_batch[0 /* is_receiving */][0 /* is_trailing */];
-        stream_op.send_idempotent_request =
-            (op->flags & GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IDEMPOTENT_REQUEST) != 0;
+        stream_op.send_initial_metadata_flags = op->flags;
         break;
       case GRPC_OP_SEND_MESSAGE:
         if (!are_write_flags_valid(op->flags)) {
diff --git a/src/core/lib/transport/transport.h b/src/core/lib/transport/transport.h
index 460e4dcedcafbed84837335437d3ac5d37438dc5..bb1120ee3abce8f5ce6e8c2f5408779f1f5c9831 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/transport/transport.h
+++ b/src/core/lib/transport/transport.h
@@ -101,9 +101,9 @@ typedef struct grpc_transport_stream_op {
   /** Send initial metadata to the peer, from the provided metadata batch.
       idempotent_request MUST be set if this is non-null */
   grpc_metadata_batch *send_initial_metadata;
-  /** Iff send_initial_metadata != NULL, flags if this is an idempotent request
-      or not */
-  bool send_idempotent_request;
+  /** Iff send_initial_metadata != NULL, flags associated with
+      send_initial_metadata: a bitfield of GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_xxx */
+  uint32_t send_initial_metadata_flags;
 
   /** Send trailing metadata to the peer, from the provided metadata batch. */
   grpc_metadata_batch *send_trailing_metadata;
diff --git a/src/cpp/client/client_context.cc b/src/cpp/client/client_context.cc
index bf6423128aeef8a654db99c9b21a0be4c488d1b5..c277d7ebe84905948227bd68087c1a54404c1f1b 100644
--- a/src/cpp/client/client_context.cc
+++ b/src/cpp/client/client_context.cc
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ static ClientContext::GlobalCallbacks* g_client_callbacks =
 
 ClientContext::ClientContext()
     : initial_metadata_received_(false),
+      fail_fast_(true),
+      idempotent_(false),
       call_(nullptr),
       call_canceled_(false),
       deadline_(gpr_inf_future(GPR_CLOCK_REALTIME)),
diff --git a/test/core/bad_ssl/bad_ssl_test.c b/test/core/bad_ssl/bad_ssl_test.c
index 12c7710af6c2af828f37712d6ded06bed3d91882..c4ae212ec29c7e5181d968be40bc7b4d4d73b079 100644
--- a/test/core/bad_ssl/bad_ssl_test.c
+++ b/test/core/bad_ssl/bad_ssl_test.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ static void run_test(const char *target, size_t nops) {
   op = ops;
   op->op = GRPC_OP_SEND_INITIAL_METADATA;
   op->data.send_initial_metadata.count = 0;
-  op->flags = 0;
+  op->flags = GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IGNORE_CONNECTIVITY;
   op->reserved = NULL;
   op++;
   op->op = GRPC_OP_RECV_STATUS_ON_CLIENT;
diff --git a/test/core/end2end/dualstack_socket_test.c b/test/core/end2end/dualstack_socket_test.c
index 8568bb1a86bb6626ce6fdb54c3d45370bf56348c..81f76ea79c20886c9f8b1609ef2b6a574ee6eb3d 100644
--- a/test/core/end2end/dualstack_socket_test.c
+++ b/test/core/end2end/dualstack_socket_test.c
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ void test_connect(const char *server_host, const char *client_host, int port,
   op = ops;
   op->op = GRPC_OP_SEND_INITIAL_METADATA;
   op->data.send_initial_metadata.count = 0;
-  op->flags = 0;
+  op->flags = expect_ok ? GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IGNORE_CONNECTIVITY : 0;
   op->reserved = NULL;
   op++;
   op->op = GRPC_OP_SEND_CLOSE_FROM_CLIENT;
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ void test_connect(const char *server_host, const char *client_host, int port,
     cq_expect_completion(cqv, tag(1), 1);
     cq_verify(cqv);
 
-    GPR_ASSERT(status == GRPC_STATUS_DEADLINE_EXCEEDED);
+    GPR_ASSERT(status == GRPC_STATUS_UNAVAILABLE);
   }
 
   grpc_call_destroy(c);
diff --git a/test/core/end2end/tests/simple_delayed_request.c b/test/core/end2end/tests/simple_delayed_request.c
index bb9d462cef18764c8ee500c12ba0c5ab374f22f3..122dcd0a5b61f8a5cd65ddaf4569485f20b843ee 100644
--- a/test/core/end2end/tests/simple_delayed_request.c
+++ b/test/core/end2end/tests/simple_delayed_request.c
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ static void simple_delayed_request_body(grpc_end2end_test_config config,
   op = ops;
   op->op = GRPC_OP_SEND_INITIAL_METADATA;
   op->data.send_initial_metadata.count = 0;
-  op->flags = 0;
+  op->flags = GRPC_INITIAL_METADATA_IGNORE_CONNECTIVITY;
   op->reserved = NULL;
   op++;
   op->op = GRPC_OP_SEND_CLOSE_FROM_CLIENT;
diff --git a/test/cpp/end2end/client_crash_test.cc b/test/cpp/end2end/client_crash_test.cc
index c01f40dbc2e2500a727024ccceb7b0914f646d33..30b04fb9b9bdbc77866610a1436fd1302a2672e4 100644
--- a/test/cpp/end2end/client_crash_test.cc
+++ b/test/cpp/end2end/client_crash_test.cc
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ TEST_F(CrashTest, KillBeforeWrite) {
   EchoRequest request;
   EchoResponse response;
   ClientContext context;
+  context.set_fail_fast(false);
 
   auto stream = stub->BidiStream(&context);
 
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ TEST_F(CrashTest, KillAfterWrite) {
   EchoRequest request;
   EchoResponse response;
   ClientContext context;
+  context.set_fail_fast(false);
 
   auto stream = stub->BidiStream(&context);
 
diff --git a/test/cpp/end2end/server_crash_test_client.cc b/test/cpp/end2end/server_crash_test_client.cc
index 1964840fa529fe90af9b7b3f98060785ee90dec0..ece948d5a7302b5daf066ce4971b25e05359d8d2 100644
--- a/test/cpp/end2end/server_crash_test_client.cc
+++ b/test/cpp/end2end/server_crash_test_client.cc
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
   EchoRequest request;
   EchoResponse response;
   grpc::ClientContext context;
+  context.set_fail_fast(false);
 
   if (FLAGS_mode == "bidi") {
     auto stream = stub->BidiStream(&context);