diff --git a/debian/alternc.config b/debian/alternc.config
index c1fce570..4b33c591 100644
--- a/debian/alternc.config
+++ b/debian/alternc.config
@@ -51,13 +51,17 @@ check_mysql()
     if [ "`mysql -u"$MYSQL_USER" -p"$MYSQL_PASSWORD" -h"$MYSQL_HOST" -Bse 'SELECT "OK";' 2>/dev/null`" = "OK" ]; then
       STATE=`expr $STATE + 1`
     else
-      db_input high alternc/remote_mysql_error || true
+      db_input high alternc/retry_remote_mysql || true
       if [ $? -eq 30 ]; then
+        db_input high alternc/remote_mysql_error || true
+        db_go || true
         exit 4
       fi
       db_go
-      db_get alternc/remote_mysql_error || true
+      db_get alternc/retry_remote_mysql || true
       if [ "$RET" = "false" ]; then
+        db_input high alternc/remote_mysql_error || true
+        db_go || true
         exit 4
       fi
     fi
diff --git a/debian/alternc.templates b/debian/alternc.templates
index a7cd8d04..49fa3317 100644
--- a/debian/alternc.templates
+++ b/debian/alternc.templates
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ _Description: Use a remote MySQL server?
  Please confirm you want to use a remote Mysql Server.
  If not, AlternC cannot be installed.
 
-Template: alternc/remote_mysql_error
+Template: alternc/retry_remote_mysql
 Type: boolean
 _Description: MySQL connection error. Try again?
  Remote connection to the MySQL server failed.
@@ -254,3 +254,10 @@ _Description: Private IP detected, use it anyway?
  this is an expected situation, since the server might not be reachable
  from outside your network.
 
+Template: alternc/remote_mysql_error
+Type: error
+_Description: Remote mysql: connection error
+ Connection to the remote MySQL server failed.
+ .
+ This is a fatal error and will cause the package installation
+ to fail.