Non-delegable client requests to servers storing local information only are disclosed. In one embodiment, a request is sent from a client to a server of a list of servers. The server determines whether it is inappropriate to fulfill the request. If so, it sends an error message to the client that it is off-line. When the client receives the message that the server is off-line, it sends the request to another server on the list, which is continued until a server is found that is able to fulfill the request. Embodiments of the invention thus leverage existing client-known error messages to redirect client requests to other servers.