diff --git a/extras/hs-test/actions.go b/extras/hs-test/actions.go
index aa82f49..7525085 100755
--- a/extras/hs-test/actions.go
+++ b/extras/hs-test/actions.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 	"git.fd.io/govpp.git/api"
 	"github.com/edwarnicke/exechelper"
 	"github.com/edwarnicke/govpp/binapi/af_packet"
+	"github.com/edwarnicke/govpp/binapi/ethernet_types"
 	interfaces "github.com/edwarnicke/govpp/binapi/interface"
 	"github.com/edwarnicke/govpp/binapi/interface_types"
 	ip_types "github.com/edwarnicke/govpp/binapi/ip_types"
@@ -28,6 +29,8 @@
 	reg("vpp-envoy", ConfigureEnvoyProxy)
 	reg("http-tps", ConfigureHttpTps)
 	reg("2veths", Configure2Veths)
+	reg("vcl-test-server", RunVclEchoServer)
+	reg("vcl-test-client", RunVclEchoClient)
 }
 
 func configureProxyTcp(ifName0, ipAddr0, ifName1, ipAddr1 string) ConfFn {
@@ -145,11 +148,59 @@
 	cmd := fmt.Sprintf("test echo client %s uri tcp://10.10.10.1/1234", getArgs())
 	return ApiCliInband("/tmp/2veths", cmd)
 }
-func configure2vethsTopo(ifName, interfaceAddress, namespaceId string, secret uint64) ConfFn {
+
+func RunVclEchoServer(args []string) *ActionResult {
+	f, err := os.Create("vcl_1.conf")
+	if err != nil {
+		return NewActionResult(err, ActionResultWithStderr(("create vcl config: ")))
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintf(f, vclTemplate, "/tmp/echo-srv/var/run/app_ns_sockets/1", "1")
+	f.Close()
+
+	os.Setenv("VCL_CONFIG", "/vcl_1.conf")
+	cmd := fmt.Sprintf("vcl_test_server -p %s 12346", args[2])
+	errCh := exechelper.Start(cmd)
+	select {
+	case err := <-errCh:
+		writeSyncFile(NewActionResult(err, ActionResultWithDesc("vcl_test_server: ")))
+	default:
+	}
+	writeSyncFile(OkResult())
+	return nil
+}
+
+func RunVclEchoClient(args []string) *ActionResult {
+	outBuff := bytes.NewBuffer([]byte{})
+	errBuff := bytes.NewBuffer([]byte{})
+
+	f, err := os.Create("vcl_2.conf")
+	if err != nil {
+		return NewActionResult(err, ActionResultWithStderr(("create vcl config: ")))
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintf(f, vclTemplate, "/tmp/echo-cln/var/run/app_ns_sockets/2", "2")
+	f.Close()
+
+	os.Setenv("VCL_CONFIG", "/vcl_2.conf")
+	cmd := fmt.Sprintf("vcl_test_client -U -p %s 10.10.10.1 12346", args[2])
+	err = exechelper.Run(cmd,
+		exechelper.WithStdout(outBuff), exechelper.WithStderr(errBuff),
+		exechelper.WithStdout(os.Stdout), exechelper.WithStderr(os.Stderr))
+
+	return NewActionResult(err, ActionResultWithStdout(string(outBuff.String())),
+		ActionResultWithStderr(string(errBuff.String())))
+}
+
+func configure2vethsTopo(ifName, interfaceAddress, namespaceId string, secret uint64, optionalHardwareAddress ...string) ConfFn {
 	return func(ctx context.Context,
 		vppConn api.Connection) error {
 
-		swIfIndex, err := configureAfPacket(ctx, vppConn, ifName, interfaceAddress)
+		var swIfIndex interface_types.InterfaceIndex
+		var err error
+		if optionalHardwareAddress == nil {
+			swIfIndex, err = configureAfPacket(ctx, vppConn, ifName, interfaceAddress)
+		} else {
+			swIfIndex, err = configureAfPacket(ctx, vppConn, ifName, interfaceAddress, optionalHardwareAddress[0])
+		}
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Printf("failed to create af packet: %v", err)
 		}
@@ -191,6 +242,8 @@
 	var fn func(context.Context, api.Connection) error
 	if args[2] == "srv" {
 		fn = configure2vethsTopo("vppsrv", "10.10.10.1/24", "1", 1)
+	} else if args[2] == "srv-with-preset-hw-addr" {
+		fn = configure2vethsTopo("vppsrv", "10.10.10.1/24", "1", 1, "00:00:5e:00:53:01")
 	} else {
 		fn = configure2vethsTopo("vppcln", "10.10.10.2/24", "2", 2)
 	}
@@ -204,14 +257,23 @@
 }
 
 func configureAfPacket(ctx context.Context, vppCon api.Connection,
-	name, interfaceAddress string) (interface_types.InterfaceIndex, error) {
+	name, interfaceAddress string, optionalHardwareAddress ...string) (interface_types.InterfaceIndex, error) {
+	var err error
 	ifaceClient := interfaces.NewServiceClient(vppCon)
-	afPacketCreate := &af_packet.AfPacketCreateV2{
+	afPacketCreate := af_packet.AfPacketCreateV2{
 		UseRandomHwAddr: true,
 		HostIfName:      name,
 		NumRxQueues:     1,
 	}
-	afPacketCreateRsp, err := af_packet.NewServiceClient(vppCon).AfPacketCreateV2(ctx, afPacketCreate)
+	if len(optionalHardwareAddress) > 0 {
+		afPacketCreate.HwAddr, err = ethernet_types.ParseMacAddress(optionalHardwareAddress[0])
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Printf("failed to parse mac address: %v", err)
+			return 0, err
+		}
+		afPacketCreate.UseRandomHwAddr = false
+	}
+	afPacketCreateRsp, err := af_packet.NewServiceClient(vppCon).AfPacketCreateV2(ctx, &afPacketCreate)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Printf("failed to create af packet: %v", err)
 		return 0, err
diff --git a/extras/hs-test/main.go b/extras/hs-test/main.go
index 1014917..f54b6c4 100755
--- a/extras/hs-test/main.go
+++ b/extras/hs-test/main.go
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
 		defer f.Close()
 		f.Write([]byte(str))
 	} else {
-		return fmt.Errorf("sync file exists, delete the file frst")
+		return fmt.Errorf("sync file exists, delete the file first")
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
 
 func ActionResultWithStdout(s string) ActionResultOptionFn {
 	return func(res *ActionResult) {
-		res.ErrOutput = s
+		res.StdOutput = s
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/extras/hs-test/netconfig.go b/extras/hs-test/netconfig.go
index f3f3c1b..46f23c0 100755
--- a/extras/hs-test/netconfig.go
+++ b/extras/hs-test/netconfig.go
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
 
 const (
 	NetNs NetType = "netns"
-	Veth          = "veth"
-	Tap           = "tap"
+	Veth  string  = "veth"
+	Tap   string  = "tap"
 )
 
 type NetConfig struct {
diff --git a/extras/hs-test/utils.go b/extras/hs-test/utils.go
index ba40bee..4674baf 100755
--- a/extras/hs-test/utils.go
+++ b/extras/hs-test/utils.go
@@ -50,6 +50,16 @@
 
 `
 
+const vclTemplate = `vcl {
+  app-socket-api %[1]s
+  app-scope-global
+  app-scope-local
+  namespace-id %[2]s
+  namespace-secret %[2]s
+  use-mq-eventfd
+}
+`
+
 const TopologyDir string = "topo/"
 
 type Stanza struct {
@@ -142,7 +152,7 @@
 func waitForSyncFile(fname string) (*JsonResult, error) {
 	var res JsonResult
 
-	for i := 0; i < 60; i++ {
+	for i := 0; i < 360; i++ {
 		f, err := os.Open(fname)
 		if err == nil {
 			defer f.Close()
diff --git a/extras/hs-test/vcl_test.go b/extras/hs-test/vcl_test.go
index 8c4afe8..96ca7f6 100755
--- a/extras/hs-test/vcl_test.go
+++ b/extras/hs-test/vcl_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/edwarnicke/exechelper"
 )
@@ -84,3 +85,104 @@
 	}
 	fmt.Println(o)
 }
+
+func (s *Veths2Suite) TestVclRetryAttach() {
+	s.testRetryAttach("tcp")
+}
+
+func (s *Veths2Suite) testRetryAttach(proto string) {
+	t := s.T()
+
+	exechelper.Run("docker volume create --name=echo-srv-vol")
+	exechelper.Run("docker volume create --name=echo-cln-vol")
+
+	srvInstance := "vpp-vcl-test-srv"
+	clnInstance := "vpp-vcl-test-cln"
+	echoSrv := "echo-srv"
+	echoCln := "echo-cln"
+
+	err := dockerRun(srvInstance, "-v echo-srv-vol:/tmp/2veths")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("%v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer func() { exechelper.Run("docker stop " + srvInstance) }()
+
+	err = dockerRun(clnInstance, "-v echo-cln-vol:/tmp/2veths")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("%v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer func() { exechelper.Run("docker stop " + clnInstance) }()
+
+	err = dockerRun(echoSrv, fmt.Sprintf("-v echo-srv-vol:/tmp/%s", echoSrv))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("%v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer func() { exechelper.Run("docker stop " + echoSrv) }()
+
+	err = dockerRun(echoCln, fmt.Sprintf("-v echo-cln-vol:/tmp/%s", echoCln))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("%v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer func() { exechelper.Run("docker stop " + echoCln) }()
+
+	_, err = hstExec("2veths srv-with-preset-hw-addr", srvInstance)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("%v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	_, err = hstExec("2veths cln", clnInstance)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("%v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	_, err = hstExec("vcl-test-server "+proto, echoSrv)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("vcl test server: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	fmt.Println("This whole test case can take around 3 minutes to run. Please be patient.")
+	fmt.Println("... Running first echo client test, before disconnect.")
+	_, err = hstExec("vcl-test-client "+proto, echoCln)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("vcl test client: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	fmt.Println("... First test ended. Stopping VPP server now.")
+
+	// Stop server-vpp-instance, start it again and then run vcl-test-client once more
+	stopVppCommand := "/bin/bash -c 'ps -C vpp_main -o pid= | xargs kill -9'"
+	_, err = dockerExec(stopVppCommand, srvInstance)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error while stopping vpp: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	time.Sleep(5 * time.Second) // Give parent process time to reap the killed child process
+	stopVppCommand = "/bin/bash -c 'ps -C hs-test -o pid= | xargs kill -9'"
+	_, err = dockerExec(stopVppCommand, srvInstance)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error while stopping hs-test: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	_, err = hstExec("2veths srv-with-preset-hw-addr", srvInstance)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("%v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	fmt.Println("... VPP server is starting again, so waiting for a bit.")
+	time.Sleep(30 * time.Second) // Wait a moment for the re-attachment to happen
+
+	fmt.Println("... Running second echo client test, after disconnect and re-attachment.")
+	_, err = hstExec("vcl-test-client "+proto, echoCln)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("vcl test client: %v", err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Done.")
+}
diff --git a/src/vcl/vcl_private.h b/src/vcl/vcl_private.h
index 846875d..3df8b4b 100644
--- a/src/vcl/vcl_private.h
+++ b/src/vcl/vcl_private.h
@@ -341,6 +341,10 @@
   /** Lock to protect worker registrations */
   clib_spinlock_t workers_lock;
 
+  /** Counter to determine order of execution of `vcl_api_retry_attach`
+   * function by multiple workers */
+  int reattach_count;
+
   /** Lock to protect segment hash table */
   clib_rwlock_t segment_table_lock;
 
diff --git a/src/vcl/vcl_sapi.c b/src/vcl/vcl_sapi.c
index 7d677e9..3a97fa2 100644
--- a/src/vcl/vcl_sapi.c
+++ b/src/vcl/vcl_sapi.c
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@
     }
 
   wrk->api_client_handle = mp->api_client_handle;
+  /* reattaching via `vcl_api_retry_attach` wants wrk->vpp_wrk_index to be 0 */
+  wrk->vpp_wrk_index = 0;
   segment_handle = mp->segment_handle;
   if (segment_handle == VCL_INVALID_SEGMENT_HANDLE)
     {
diff --git a/src/vcl/vppcom.c b/src/vcl/vppcom.c
index ae45be3..3538a36 100644
--- a/src/vcl/vppcom.c
+++ b/src/vcl/vppcom.c
@@ -1268,13 +1268,56 @@
   return vcl_bapi_attach ();
 }
 
+int
+vcl_is_first_reattach_to_execute ()
+{
+  if (vcm->reattach_count == 0)
+    return 1;
+
+  return 0;
+}
+
+void
+vcl_set_reattach_counter ()
+{
+  ++vcm->reattach_count;
+
+  if (vcm->reattach_count == vec_len (vcm->workers))
+    vcm->reattach_count = 0;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Reattach vcl to vpp after it has previously been disconnected.
+ *
+ * The logic should be:
+ * - first worker to hit `vcl_api_retry_attach` should attach to vpp,
+ *   to reproduce the `vcl_api_attach` in `vppcom_app_create`.
+ * - the rest of the workers should `reproduce vcl_worker_register_with_vpp`
+ *   from `vppcom_worker_register` since they were already allocated.
+ */
+
 static void
 vcl_api_retry_attach (vcl_worker_t *wrk)
 {
   vcl_session_t *s;
 
-  if (vcl_api_attach ())
-    return;
+  clib_spinlock_lock (&vcm->workers_lock);
+  if (vcl_is_first_reattach_to_execute ())
+    {
+      if (vcl_api_attach ())
+	{
+	  clib_spinlock_unlock (&vcm->workers_lock);
+	  return;
+	}
+      vcl_set_reattach_counter ();
+      clib_spinlock_unlock (&vcm->workers_lock);
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      vcl_set_reattach_counter ();
+      clib_spinlock_unlock (&vcm->workers_lock);
+      vcl_worker_register_with_vpp ();
+    }
 
   /* Treat listeners as configuration that needs to be re-added to vpp */
   pool_foreach (s, wrk->sessions)