diff --git a/xwords4/linux/linuxmain.c b/xwords4/linux/linuxmain.c
index 94a472711..d22658250 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/linuxmain.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/linuxmain.c
@@ -686,10 +686,21 @@ linux_relay_receive( CommonGlobals* cGlobals, unsigned char* buf, int bufSize )
                       strerror(errno) );
         }
 
-        if ( cGlobals->params->dropNth > 0 ) {
-            if ( --cGlobals->params->dropNth == 0 ) {
-                XP_LOGF( "%s: dropping packet per --drop-nth-packet",
-                         __func__ );
+        LaunchParams* params = cGlobals->params;
+        ++params->nPacketsRcvd;
+        if ( params->dropNthRcvd == 0 ) {
+            /* do nothing */
+        } else if ( params->dropNthRcvd > 0 ) {
+            if ( params->nPacketsRcvd == params->dropNthRcvd ) {
+                XP_LOGF( "%s: dropping %dth packet per --drop-nth-packet",
+                         __func__, params->nPacketsRcvd );
+                nRead = -1;
+            }
+        } else {
+            if ( 0 == XP_RANDOM() % -params->dropNthRcvd ) {
+                XP_LOGF( "%s: RANDOMLY dropping %dth packet "
+                         "per --drop-nth-packet",
+                         __func__, params->nPacketsRcvd );
                 nRead = -1;
             }
         }
@@ -1049,7 +1060,7 @@ main( int argc, char** argv )
             mainParams.duplicatePackets = XP_TRUE;
             break;
         case CMD_DROPNTHPACKET:
-            mainParams.dropNth = atoi( optarg );
+            mainParams.dropNthRcvd = atoi( optarg );
             break;
         case CMD_NOHINTS:
             mainParams.gi.hintsNotAllowed = XP_TRUE;
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/main.h b/xwords4/linux/main.h
index 4aeebb05a..388f8586d 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/main.h
+++ b/xwords4/linux/main.h
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ typedef struct LaunchParams {
     VTableMgr* vtMgr;
     XP_U16 nLocalPlayers;
     XP_U16 nHidden;
-    XP_U16 dropNth;
+    XP_S16 dropNthRcvd;         /* negative means use for random calc */
+    XP_U16 nPacketsRcvd;        /* toward dropNthRcvd */
     XP_Bool askNewGame;
     XP_S16 quitAfter;
     XP_Bool sleepOnAnchor;
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/scripts/discon_ok2.sh b/xwords4/linux/scripts/discon_ok2.sh
index 55a5292b5..69c0661f4 100755
--- a/xwords4/linux/scripts/discon_ok2.sh
+++ b/xwords4/linux/scripts/discon_ok2.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ DICTS=${DICTS:-dict.xwd}
 SAVE_GOOD=${SAVE_GOOD:-YES}
 MAXDEVS=${MAXDEVS:-4}
 RESIGN_RATIO=${RESIGN_RATIO:-$((NGAMES/3))}
-DROP_N=1
+DROP_N=${DROP_N:-1}
 
 declare -a DICTS_ARR
 for DICT in $DICTS; do
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ run_cmds() {
             sleep 2             # make sure it's had some time
             kill ${PIDS[$KEY]} || true
             PIDS[$KEY]=0
-            increment_drop $KEY
+            [ $DROP_N -ge 0 ] && increment_drop $KEY
             check_game $KEY
         fi
     done