A communication system includes a local unit that has a lower data link layer and a session layer running a data pass-through application and a user interface. The data pass-through application lets the data link layer in the local unit pass data through to a remote unit. The remote unit has a lower data link layer and a session layer executing a user interface. When the data link layer detects that the session layer is unstable and/or locked up, the data link layer transmits a disconnect request to the local unit's data link layer. All further user data sent to the local unit's data link layer is routed to the local unit's user interface.