diff --git a/discord/client.py b/discord/client.py
index 8cf5d00bb..758ab2179 100644
--- a/discord/client.py
+++ b/discord/client.py
@@ -361,17 +361,12 @@ class Client:
         while not self.is_closed():
             try:
                 yield from self.ws.poll_event()
-            except (ReconnectWebSocket, ResumeWebSocket) as e:
-                resume = type(e) is ResumeWebSocket
-                log.info('Got ' + type(e).__name__)
-
-                if not resume:
-                    self._ready.clear()
-
+            except ResumeWebSocket as e:
+                log.info('Got a request to RESUME the websocket.')
                 self.ws = yield from DiscordWebSocket.from_client(self, shard_id=self.shard_id,
                                                                         session=self.ws.session_id,
                                                                         sequence=self.ws.sequence,
-                                                                        resume=resume)
+                                                                        resume=True)
             except ConnectionClosed as e:
                 yield from self.close()
                 if e.code != 1000:
diff --git a/discord/gateway.py b/discord/gateway.py
index 9897ca423..e75370bca 100644
--- a/discord/gateway.py
+++ b/discord/gateway.py
@@ -41,15 +41,9 @@ import struct
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-__all__ = [ 'ReconnectWebSocket', 'DiscordWebSocket',
-            'KeepAliveHandler', 'VoiceKeepAliveHandler',
+__all__ = [ 'DiscordWebSocket', 'KeepAliveHandler', 'VoiceKeepAliveHandler',
             'DiscordVoiceWebSocket', 'ResumeWebSocket' ]
 
-class ReconnectWebSocket(Exception):
-    """Signals to handle the RECONNECT opcode."""
-    def __init__(self, shard_id):
-        self.shard_id = shard_id
-
 class ResumeWebSocket(Exception):
     """Signals to initialise via RESUME opcode instead of IDENTIFY."""
     def __init__(self, shard_id):
@@ -128,8 +122,8 @@ class DiscordWebSocket(websockets.client.WebSocketClientProtocol):
     REQUEST_MEMBERS
         Send only. Asks for the full member list of a guild.
     INVALIDATE_SESSION
-        Receive only. Tells the client to invalidate the session and IDENTIFY
-        again.
+        Receive only. Tells the client to optionally invalidate the session
+        and IDENTIFY again.
     HELLO
         Receive only. Tells the client the heartbeat interval.
     HEARTBEAT_ACK
@@ -306,7 +300,7 @@ class DiscordWebSocket(websockets.client.WebSocketClientProtocol):
             # internal exception signalling to reconnect.
             log.info('Received RECONNECT opcode.')
             yield from self.close()
-            raise ReconnectWebSocket(self.shard_id)
+            raise ResumeWebSocket(self.shard_id)
 
         if op == self.HEARTBEAT_ACK:
             return # disable noisy logging for now
@@ -323,12 +317,13 @@ class DiscordWebSocket(websockets.client.WebSocketClientProtocol):
             return
 
         if op == self.INVALIDATE_SESSION:
-            self.sequence = None
-            self.session_id = None
             if data == True:
                 yield from self.close()
                 raise ResumeWebSocket(self.shard_id)
 
+            self.sequence = None
+            self.session_id = None
+            log.info('Shard ID %s has either failed a RESUME request or needed to invalidate its session.' % self.shard_id)
             yield from self.identify()
             return
 
diff --git a/discord/shard.py b/discord/shard.py
index 7bb3a201e..dade454db 100644
--- a/discord/shard.py
+++ b/discord/shard.py
@@ -54,10 +54,9 @@ class Shard:
     def poll(self):
         try:
             yield from self.ws.poll_event()
-        except (ReconnectWebSocket, ResumeWebSocket) as e:
-            resume = type(e) is ResumeWebSocket
-            log.info('Got ' + type(e).__name__)
-            self.ws = yield from DiscordWebSocket.from_client(self._client, resume=resume,
+        except ResumeWebSocket as e:
+            log.info('Got a request to RESUME the websocket.')
+            self.ws = yield from DiscordWebSocket.from_client(self._client, resume=True,
                                                                             shard_id=self.id,
                                                                             session=self.ws.session_id,
                                                                             sequence=self.ws.sequence)