diff --git a/services/sync/modules/service.js b/services/sync/modules/service.js
index 8b3fe88272d5..5affc06c5a72 100644
--- a/services/sync/modules/service.js
+++ b/services/sync/modules/service.js
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ WeaveSvc.prototype = {
         this._syncErrors = 0;
         break;
       case "weave:service:backoff:interval":
-        let interval = data + Math.random() * data * 0.25; // required backoff + up to 25%
+        let interval = (data + Math.random() * data * 0.25) * 1000; // required backoff + up to 25%
         Status.backoffInterval = interval;
         Status.minimumNextSync = Date.now() + data;
         break;
@@ -1175,6 +1175,10 @@ WeaveSvc.prototype = {
     this._clearSyncTriggers();
     this.nextSync = 0;
 
+    // reset backoff info, if the server tells us to continue backing off, 
+    // we'll handle that later
+    Status.resetBackoff();
+
     this.globalScore = 0;
 
     if (!(this._remoteSetup()))
@@ -1261,7 +1265,6 @@ WeaveSvc.prototype = {
     this._log.debug("Client count: " + this.numClients + " -> " + numClients);
     this.numClients = numClients;
 
-    let tabEngine = Engines.get("tabs");
     if (numClients == 1) {
       this.syncInterval = SINGLE_USER_SYNC;
       this.syncThreshold = SINGLE_USER_THRESHOLD;
diff --git a/services/sync/modules/status.js b/services/sync/modules/status.js
index f6162ce4dcb2..fc9526b2bb09 100644
--- a/services/sync/modules/status.js
+++ b/services/sync/modules/status.js
@@ -55,13 +55,7 @@ let Status = {
   get sync() this._sync,
   set sync(code) {
     this._sync = code;
-
-    if (code != SYNC_SUCCEEDED)
-      this.service = SYNC_FAILED;
-    else {
-      this.service = STATUS_OK;
-      this.resetBackoff();
-    }
+    this.service = code == SYNC_SUCCEEDED ? STATUS_OK : SYNC_FAILED;
   },
 
   get engines() this._engines,