diff --git a/relayer/processor/path_end_runtime.go b/relayer/processor/path_end_runtime.go
index b8187e28b..9765aad73 100644
--- a/relayer/processor/path_end_runtime.go
+++ b/relayer/processor/path_end_runtime.go
@@ -561,12 +561,12 @@ func (pathEnd *pathEndRuntime) shouldSendPacketMessage(message packetIBCMessage,
 			zap.Uint64("sequence", sequence),
 			zap.Inline(k),
 		)
-		pathEnd.retryCount++
-		if pathEnd.retryCount >= maxMessageSendRetries {
+		if pathEnd.retryCount >= maxMessageSendRetriesIfChannelNotOpen {
 			pathEnd.removePacketRetention(counterparty, eventType, k, sequence)
 			pathEnd.retryCount = 0
 			return false
 		}
+		pathEnd.retryCount++
 	}
 	msgProcessCache, ok := pathEnd.packetProcessing[k]
 	if !ok {
diff --git a/relayer/processor/path_processor.go b/relayer/processor/path_processor.go
index a6e31bd60..3cc2668da 100644
--- a/relayer/processor/path_processor.go
+++ b/relayer/processor/path_processor.go
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ const (
 	// How many times to retry sending a message before giving up on it.
 	maxMessageSendRetries = 5
 
+	// How many times to retry sending a message if channel is not opened.
+	maxMessageSendRetriesIfChannelNotOpen = 1
+
 	// How many blocks of history to retain ibc headers in the cache for.
 	ibcHeadersToCache = 10