diff --git a/src/streamer/forwarder.rs b/src/streamer/forwarder.rs
index 5e43a9d..0578208 100644
--- a/src/streamer/forwarder.rs
+++ b/src/streamer/forwarder.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ use super::alis;
 use super::session;
 use anyhow::anyhow;
 use anyhow::bail;
+use axum::http::Uri;
 use core::future::{self, Future};
 use futures_util::{stream, SinkExt, Stream, StreamExt};
 use std::borrow::Cow;
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ use tokio_stream::wrappers::errors::BroadcastStreamRecvError;
 use tokio_stream::wrappers::IntervalStream;
 use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::protocol::frame::coding::CloseCode;
 use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::protocol::CloseFrame;
-use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::Message;
+use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::{self, ClientRequestBuilder, Message};
 use tokio_tungstenite::{MaybeTlsStream, WebSocketStream};
 use tracing::{debug, error, info};
 
@@ -65,6 +66,16 @@ pub async fn forward(
             }
 
             Err(e) => {
+                if let Some(tungstenite::error::Error::Protocol(
+                    tungstenite::error::ProtocolError::SecWebSocketSubProtocolError(_),
+                )) = e.downcast_ref::<tungstenite::error::Error>()
+                {
+                    let _ = notifier_tx
+                        .send("CLI not compatible with the server, forwarding failed".to_string());
+
+                    break;
+                }
+
                 error!("connection error: {e}");
 
                 if reconnect_attempt == 0 {
@@ -94,7 +105,9 @@ async fn connect_and_forward(
     url: &url::Url,
     clients_tx: &mpsc::Sender<session::Client>,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<bool> {
-    let (ws, _) = tokio_tungstenite::connect_async_with_config(url.to_string(), None, true).await?;
+    let uri: Uri = url.to_string().parse()?;
+    let builder = ClientRequestBuilder::new(uri).with_sub_protocol("v1.alis");
+    let (ws, _) = tokio_tungstenite::connect_async_with_config(builder, None, true).await?;
     info!("connected to the endpoint");
     let events = event_stream(clients_tx).await?;