diff --git a/readme.plan.md b/readme.plan.md
deleted file mode 100644
index f148f78..0000000
--- a/readme.plan.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,165 +0,0 @@
-# SmartProxy Socket Handling Fix Plan
-
-Reread CLAUDE.md file for guidelines
-
-## Implementation Summary (COMPLETED)
-
-The critical socket handling issues have been fixed:
-
-1. **Prevented Server Crashes**: Created `createSocketWithErrorHandler()` utility that attaches error handlers immediately upon socket creation, preventing unhandled ECONNREFUSED errors from crashing the server.
-
-2. **Fixed Memory Leaks**: Updated forwarding handlers to properly clean up client sockets when server connections fail, ensuring connection records are removed from tracking.
-
-3. **Key Changes Made**:
-   - Added `createSocketWithErrorHandler()` in `socket-utils.ts`
-   - Updated `https-passthrough-handler.ts` to use safe socket creation
-   - Updated `https-terminate-to-http-handler.ts` to use safe socket creation
-   - Ensured client sockets are destroyed when server connections fail
-   - Connection cleanup now triggered by socket close events
-
-4. **Test Results**: Server no longer crashes on ECONNREFUSED errors, and connections are properly cleaned up.
-
-## Problem Summary
-
-The SmartProxy server is experiencing critical issues:
-1. **Server crashes** due to unhandled socket connection errors (ECONNREFUSED)
-2. **Memory leak** with steadily rising active connection count
-3. **Race conditions** between socket creation and error handler attachment
-4. **Orphaned sockets** when server connections fail
-
-## Root Causes
-
-### 1. Delayed Error Handler Attachment
-- Sockets created without immediate error handlers
-- Error events can fire before handlers attached
-- Causes uncaught exceptions and server crashes
-
-### 2. Incomplete Cleanup Logic
-- Client sockets not cleaned up when server connection fails
-- Connection counter only decrements after BOTH sockets close
-- Failed server connections leave orphaned client sockets
-
-### 3. Missing Global Error Handlers
-- No process-level uncaughtException handler
-- No process-level unhandledRejection handler
-- Any unhandled error crashes entire server
-
-## Implementation Plan
-
-### Phase 1: Prevent Server Crashes (Critical)
-
-#### 1.1 Add Global Error Handlers
-- [x] ~~Add global error handlers in main entry point~~ (Removed per user request - no global handlers)
-- [x] Log errors with context
-- [x] ~~Implement graceful shutdown sequence~~ (Removed - handled locally)
-
-#### 1.2 Fix Socket Creation Race Condition
-- [x] Modify socket creation to attach error handlers immediately
-- [x] Update all forwarding handlers (https-passthrough, http, etc.)
-- [x] Ensure error handlers attached in same tick as socket creation
-
-### Phase 2: Fix Memory Leaks (High Priority)
-
-#### 2.1 Fix Connection Cleanup Logic
-- [x] Clean up client socket immediately if server connection fails
-- [x] Decrement connection counter on any socket failure (handled by socket close events)
-- [x] Implement proper cleanup for half-open connections
-
-#### 2.2 Improve Socket Utils
-- [x] Create new utility function for safe socket creation with immediate error handling
-- [x] Update createIndependentSocketHandlers to handle immediate failures
-- [ ] Add connection tracking debug utilities
-
-### Phase 3: Comprehensive Testing (Important)
-
-#### 3.1 Create Test Cases
-- [x] Test ECONNREFUSED scenario
-- [ ] Test timeout handling
-- [ ] Test half-open connections
-- [ ] Test rapid connect/disconnect cycles
-
-#### 3.2 Add Monitoring
-- [ ] Add connection leak detection
-- [ ] Add metrics for connection lifecycle
-- [ ] Add debug logging for socket state transitions
-
-## Detailed Implementation Steps
-
-### Step 1: Global Error Handlers (ts/proxies/smart-proxy/smart-proxy.ts)
-```typescript
-// Add in constructor or start method
-process.on('uncaughtException', (error) => {
-  logger.log('error', 'Uncaught exception', { error });
-  // Graceful shutdown
-});
-
-process.on('unhandledRejection', (reason, promise) => {
-  logger.log('error', 'Unhandled rejection', { reason, promise });
-});
-```
-
-### Step 2: Safe Socket Creation Utility (ts/core/utils/socket-utils.ts)
-```typescript
-export function createSocketWithErrorHandler(
-  options: net.NetConnectOpts,
-  onError: (err: Error) => void
-): net.Socket {
-  const socket = net.connect(options);
-  socket.on('error', onError);
-  return socket;
-}
-```
-
-### Step 3: Fix HttpsPassthroughHandler (ts/forwarding/handlers/https-passthrough-handler.ts)
-- Replace direct socket creation with safe creation
-- Handle server connection failures immediately
-- Clean up client socket on server connection failure
-
-### Step 4: Fix Connection Counting
-- Decrement on ANY socket close, not just when both close
-- Track failed connections separately
-- Add connection state tracking
-
-### Step 5: Update All Handlers
-- [ ] https-passthrough-handler.ts
-- [ ] http-handler.ts
-- [ ] https-terminate-to-http-handler.ts
-- [ ] https-terminate-to-https-handler.ts
-- [ ] route-connection-handler.ts
-
-## Success Criteria
-
-1. **No server crashes** on ECONNREFUSED or other socket errors
-2. **Active connections** remain stable (no steady increase)
-3. **All sockets** properly cleaned up on errors
-4. **Memory usage** remains stable under load
-5. **Graceful handling** of all error scenarios
-
-## Testing Plan
-
-1. Simulate ECONNREFUSED by targeting closed ports
-2. Monitor active connection count over time
-3. Stress test with rapid connections
-4. Test with unreachable hosts
-5. Test with slow/timing out connections
-
-## Rollback Plan
-
-If issues arise:
-1. Revert socket creation changes
-2. Keep global error handlers (they add safety)
-3. Add more detailed logging for debugging
-4. Implement fixes incrementally
-
-## Timeline
-
-- Phase 1: Immediate (prevents crashes)
-- Phase 2: Within 24 hours (fixes leaks)
-- Phase 3: Within 48 hours (ensures stability)
-
-## Notes
-
-- The race condition is the most critical issue
-- Connection counting logic needs complete overhaul
-- Consider using a connection state machine for clarity
-- Add connection lifecycle events for debugging
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ts/proxies/smart-proxy/route-connection-handler.ts b/ts/proxies/smart-proxy/route-connection-handler.ts
index 282c79b..bd27736 100644
--- a/ts/proxies/smart-proxy/route-connection-handler.ts
+++ b/ts/proxies/smart-proxy/route-connection-handler.ts
@@ -1074,19 +1074,13 @@ export class RouteConnectionHandler {
     }
 
     // Create the target socket with immediate error handling
-    let targetSocket: plugins.net.Socket;
+    let connectionEstablished = false;
     
-    // Flag to track if initial connection failed
-    let connectionFailed = false;
-    
-    targetSocket = createSocketWithErrorHandler({
+    const targetSocket = createSocketWithErrorHandler({
       port: finalTargetPort,
       host: finalTargetHost,
       onError: (error) => {
-        // Mark connection as failed
-        connectionFailed = true;
-        
-        // Connection failed - clean up immediately
+        // Connection failed - clean up everything immediately
         logger.log('error', 
           `Connection setup error for ${connectionId} to ${finalTargetHost}:${finalTargetPort}: ${error.message} (${(error as any).code})`, 
           {
@@ -1099,6 +1093,20 @@ export class RouteConnectionHandler {
           }
         );
         
+        // Log specific error types for easier debugging
+        if ((error as any).code === 'ECONNREFUSED') {
+          logger.log('error', 
+            `Connection ${connectionId}: Target ${finalTargetHost}:${finalTargetPort} refused connection. Check if the target service is running and listening on that port.`, 
+            {
+              connectionId,
+              targetHost: finalTargetHost,
+              targetPort: finalTargetPort,
+              recommendation: 'Check if the target service is running and listening on that port.',
+              component: 'route-handler'
+            }
+          );
+        }
+        
         // Resume the incoming socket to prevent it from hanging
         socket.resume();
         
@@ -1107,18 +1115,184 @@ export class RouteConnectionHandler {
           socket.destroy();
         }
         
-        // Clean up the connection record
-        this.connectionManager.initiateCleanupOnce(record, `connection_failed_${(error as any).code || 'unknown'}`);
+        // Clean up the connection record - this is critical!
+        this.connectionManager.cleanupConnection(record, `connection_failed_${(error as any).code || 'unknown'}`);
+      },
+      onConnect: () => {
+        connectionEstablished = true;
+        
+        if (this.settings.enableDetailedLogging) {
+          logger.log('info', `Connection ${connectionId} established to target ${finalTargetHost}:${finalTargetPort}`, {
+            connectionId,
+            targetHost: finalTargetHost,
+            targetPort: finalTargetPort,
+            component: 'route-handler'
+          });
+        }
+        
+        // Clear any error listeners added by createSocketWithErrorHandler
+        targetSocket.removeAllListeners('error');
+        
+        // Add the normal error handler for established connections
+        targetSocket.on('error', this.connectionManager.handleError('outgoing', record));
+        
+        // Flush any pending data to target
+        if (record.pendingData.length > 0) {
+          const combinedData = Buffer.concat(record.pendingData);
+
+          if (this.settings.enableDetailedLogging) {
+            console.log(
+              `[${connectionId}] Forwarding ${combinedData.length} bytes of initial data to target`
+            );
+          }
+
+          // Write pending data immediately
+          targetSocket.write(combinedData, (err) => {
+            if (err) {
+              logger.log('error', `Error writing pending data to target for connection ${connectionId}: ${err.message}`, {
+                connectionId,
+                error: err.message,
+                component: 'route-handler'
+              });
+              return this.connectionManager.initiateCleanupOnce(record, 'write_error');
+            }
+          });
+
+          // Clear the buffer now that we've processed it
+          record.pendingData = [];
+          record.pendingDataSize = 0;
+        }
+
+        // Set up independent socket handlers for half-open connection support
+        const { cleanupClient, cleanupServer } = createIndependentSocketHandlers(
+          socket,
+          targetSocket,
+          (reason) => {
+            this.connectionManager.initiateCleanupOnce(record, reason);
+          }
+        );
+
+        // Setup socket handlers with custom timeout handling
+        setupSocketHandlers(socket, cleanupClient, (sock) => {
+          // Don't close on timeout for keep-alive connections
+          if (record.hasKeepAlive) {
+            sock.setTimeout(this.settings.socketTimeout || 3600000);
+          }
+        }, 'client');
+
+        setupSocketHandlers(targetSocket, cleanupServer, (sock) => {
+          // Don't close on timeout for keep-alive connections  
+          if (record.hasKeepAlive) {
+            sock.setTimeout(this.settings.socketTimeout || 3600000);
+          }
+        }, 'server');
+
+        // Forward data from client to target with backpressure handling
+        socket.on('data', (chunk: Buffer) => {
+          record.bytesReceived += chunk.length;
+          this.timeoutManager.updateActivity(record);
+          
+          if (targetSocket.writable) {
+            const flushed = targetSocket.write(chunk);
+            
+            // Handle backpressure
+            if (!flushed) {
+              socket.pause();
+              targetSocket.once('drain', () => {
+                socket.resume();
+              });
+            }
+          }
+        });
+
+        // Forward data from target to client with backpressure handling
+        targetSocket.on('data', (chunk: Buffer) => {
+          record.bytesSent += chunk.length;
+          this.timeoutManager.updateActivity(record);
+          
+          if (socket.writable) {
+            const flushed = socket.write(chunk);
+            
+            // Handle backpressure
+            if (!flushed) {
+              targetSocket.pause();
+              socket.once('drain', () => {
+                targetSocket.resume();
+              });
+            }
+          }
+        });
+
+        // Log successful connection
+        logger.log('info', 
+          `Connection established: ${record.remoteIP} -> ${finalTargetHost}:${finalTargetPort}` +
+          `${serverName ? ` (SNI: ${serverName})` : record.lockedDomain ? ` (Domain: ${record.lockedDomain})` : ''}`, 
+          {
+            remoteIP: record.remoteIP,
+            targetHost: finalTargetHost,
+            targetPort: finalTargetPort,
+            sni: serverName || undefined,
+            domain: !serverName && record.lockedDomain ? record.lockedDomain : undefined,
+            component: 'route-handler'
+          }
+        );
+
+        // Add TLS renegotiation handler if needed
+        if (serverName) {
+          // Create connection info object for the existing connection
+          const connInfo = {
+            sourceIp: record.remoteIP,
+            sourcePort: record.incoming.remotePort || 0,
+            destIp: record.incoming.localAddress || '',
+            destPort: record.incoming.localPort || 0,
+          };
+
+          // Create a renegotiation handler function
+          const renegotiationHandler = this.tlsManager.createRenegotiationHandler(
+            connectionId,
+            serverName,
+            connInfo,
+            (_connectionId, reason) => this.connectionManager.initiateCleanupOnce(record, reason)
+          );
+
+          // Store the handler in the connection record so we can remove it during cleanup
+          record.renegotiationHandler = renegotiationHandler;
+
+          // Add the handler to the socket
+          socket.on('data', renegotiationHandler);
+
+          if (this.settings.enableDetailedLogging) {
+            logger.log('info', `TLS renegotiation handler installed for connection ${connectionId} with SNI ${serverName}`, {
+              connectionId,
+              serverName,
+              component: 'route-handler'
+            });
+          }
+        }
+
+        // Set connection timeout
+        record.cleanupTimer = this.timeoutManager.setupConnectionTimeout(record, (record, reason) => {
+          logger.log('warn', `Connection ${connectionId} from ${record.remoteIP} exceeded max lifetime, forcing cleanup`, {
+            connectionId,
+            remoteIP: record.remoteIP,
+            component: 'route-handler'
+          });
+          this.connectionManager.initiateCleanupOnce(record, reason);
+        });
+
+        // Mark TLS handshake as complete for TLS connections
+        if (record.isTLS) {
+          record.tlsHandshakeComplete = true;
+        }
       }
     });
     
-    // Only proceed with setup if connection didn't fail immediately
-    if (!connectionFailed) {
-      record.outgoing = targetSocket;
-      record.outgoingStartTime = Date.now();
+    // Only set up basic properties - everything else happens in onConnect
+    record.outgoing = targetSocket;
+    record.outgoingStartTime = Date.now();
 
-      // Apply socket optimizations
-      targetSocket.setNoDelay(this.settings.noDelay);
+    // Apply socket optimizations
+    targetSocket.setNoDelay(this.settings.noDelay);
 
     // Apply keep-alive settings if enabled
     if (this.settings.keepAlive) {
@@ -1146,12 +1320,6 @@ export class RouteConnectionHandler {
       }
     }
 
-    // Setup improved error handling for outgoing connection
-    this.setupOutgoingErrorHandler(connectionId, targetSocket, record, socket, finalTargetHost, finalTargetPort);
-
-    // Note: Close handlers are managed by independent socket handlers above
-    // We don't register handleClose here to avoid bilateral cleanup
-    
     // Setup error handlers for incoming socket
     socket.on('error', this.connectionManager.handleError('incoming', record));
 
@@ -1213,178 +1381,10 @@ export class RouteConnectionHandler {
     // Apply socket timeouts
     this.timeoutManager.applySocketTimeouts(record);
 
-    // Track outgoing data for bytes counting
+    // Track outgoing data for bytes counting (moved from the duplicate connect handler)
     targetSocket.on('data', (chunk: Buffer) => {
       record.bytesSent += chunk.length;
       this.timeoutManager.updateActivity(record);
     });
-
-    // Wait for the outgoing connection to be ready before setting up piping
-    targetSocket.once('connect', () => {
-      if (this.settings.enableDetailedLogging) {
-        logger.log('info', `Connection ${connectionId} established to target ${finalTargetHost}:${finalTargetPort}`, {
-          connectionId,
-          targetHost: finalTargetHost,
-          targetPort: finalTargetPort,
-          component: 'route-handler'
-        });
-      }
-
-      // Clear the initial connection error handler
-      targetSocket.removeAllListeners('error');
-
-      // Add the normal error handler for established connections
-      targetSocket.on('error', this.connectionManager.handleError('outgoing', record));
-
-      // Flush any pending data to target
-      if (record.pendingData.length > 0) {
-        const combinedData = Buffer.concat(record.pendingData);
-
-        if (this.settings.enableDetailedLogging) {
-          console.log(
-            `[${connectionId}] Forwarding ${combinedData.length} bytes of initial data to target`
-          );
-        }
-
-        // Write pending data immediately
-        targetSocket.write(combinedData, (err) => {
-          if (err) {
-            logger.log('error', `Error writing pending data to target for connection ${connectionId}: ${err.message}`, {
-              connectionId,
-              error: err.message,
-              component: 'route-handler'
-            });
-            return this.connectionManager.initiateCleanupOnce(record, 'write_error');
-          }
-        });
-
-        // Clear the buffer now that we've processed it
-        record.pendingData = [];
-        record.pendingDataSize = 0;
-      }
-
-      // Set up independent socket handlers for half-open connection support
-      const { cleanupClient, cleanupServer } = createIndependentSocketHandlers(
-        socket,
-        targetSocket,
-        (reason) => {
-          this.connectionManager.initiateCleanupOnce(record, reason);
-        }
-      );
-
-      // Setup socket handlers with custom timeout handling
-      setupSocketHandlers(socket, cleanupClient, (sock) => {
-        // Don't close on timeout for keep-alive connections
-        if (record.hasKeepAlive) {
-          sock.setTimeout(this.settings.socketTimeout || 3600000);
-        }
-      }, 'client');
-
-      setupSocketHandlers(targetSocket, cleanupServer, (sock) => {
-        // Don't close on timeout for keep-alive connections  
-        if (record.hasKeepAlive) {
-          sock.setTimeout(this.settings.socketTimeout || 3600000);
-        }
-      }, 'server');
-
-      // Forward data from client to target with backpressure handling
-      socket.on('data', (chunk: Buffer) => {
-        record.bytesReceived += chunk.length;
-        this.timeoutManager.updateActivity(record);
-        
-        if (targetSocket.writable) {
-          const flushed = targetSocket.write(chunk);
-          
-          // Handle backpressure
-          if (!flushed) {
-            socket.pause();
-            targetSocket.once('drain', () => {
-              socket.resume();
-            });
-          }
-        }
-      });
-
-      // Forward data from target to client with backpressure handling
-      targetSocket.on('data', (chunk: Buffer) => {
-        record.bytesSent += chunk.length;
-        this.timeoutManager.updateActivity(record);
-        
-        if (socket.writable) {
-          const flushed = socket.write(chunk);
-          
-          // Handle backpressure
-          if (!flushed) {
-            targetSocket.pause();
-            socket.once('drain', () => {
-              targetSocket.resume();
-            });
-          }
-        }
-      });
-
-      // Log successful connection
-      logger.log('info', 
-        `Connection established: ${record.remoteIP} -> ${finalTargetHost}:${finalTargetPort}` +
-        `${serverName ? ` (SNI: ${serverName})` : record.lockedDomain ? ` (Domain: ${record.lockedDomain})` : ''}`, 
-        {
-          remoteIP: record.remoteIP,
-          targetHost: finalTargetHost,
-          targetPort: finalTargetPort,
-          sni: serverName || undefined,
-          domain: !serverName && record.lockedDomain ? record.lockedDomain : undefined,
-          component: 'route-handler'
-        }
-      );
-
-      // Add TLS renegotiation handler if needed
-      if (serverName) {
-        // Create connection info object for the existing connection
-        const connInfo = {
-          sourceIp: record.remoteIP,
-          sourcePort: record.incoming.remotePort || 0,
-          destIp: record.incoming.localAddress || '',
-          destPort: record.incoming.localPort || 0,
-        };
-
-        // Create a renegotiation handler function
-        const renegotiationHandler = this.tlsManager.createRenegotiationHandler(
-          connectionId,
-          serverName,
-          connInfo,
-          (_connectionId, reason) => this.connectionManager.initiateCleanupOnce(record, reason)
-        );
-
-        // Store the handler in the connection record so we can remove it during cleanup
-        record.renegotiationHandler = renegotiationHandler;
-
-        // Add the handler to the socket
-        socket.on('data', renegotiationHandler);
-
-        if (this.settings.enableDetailedLogging) {
-          logger.log('info', `TLS renegotiation handler installed for connection ${connectionId} with SNI ${serverName}`, {
-            connectionId,
-            serverName,
-            component: 'route-handler'
-          });
-        }
-      }
-
-      // Set connection timeout
-      record.cleanupTimer = this.timeoutManager.setupConnectionTimeout(record, (record, reason) => {
-        logger.log('warn', `Connection ${connectionId} from ${record.remoteIP} exceeded max lifetime, forcing cleanup`, {
-          connectionId,
-          remoteIP: record.remoteIP,
-          component: 'route-handler'
-        });
-        this.connectionManager.initiateCleanupOnce(record, reason);
-      });
-
-      // Mark TLS handshake as complete for TLS connections
-      if (record.isTLS) {
-        record.tlsHandshakeComplete = true;
-      }
-    });
-    } // End of if (!connectionFailed)
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file