Summary
The '5.4.14 Hop count exceeded' error indicates an email has become trapped in a continuous loop between mail servers, surpassing the maximum allowed number of transfers, often around 20 hops. This issue almost universally points to a misconfiguration on the recipient's email infrastructure, not the sender's. Common causes include incorrect mail flow rules, misconfigured forwarding or aliases, erroneous DNS MX records that create a circular path, or complex issues within hybrid email setups. Resolution requires the recipient's domain administrator to identify and correct the specific routing problem causing the loop. For senders, the primary action is to notify the recipient of the problem; if the issue persists for a particular address, suppressing it from future sends may be necessary.
Key findings
- Mail Loop Indication: The '5.4.14 Hop count exceeded' error universally signifies an email message trapped in an infinite loop between mail servers, exceeding a set limit (typically around 20 hops).
- Recipient-Side Issue: This error is almost always a problem with the destination server's configuration, not the sender's Email Service Provider (ESP) or sending setup.
- Common Causes: Typical causes include misconfigured mail flow rules, incorrect email forwarding or aliases, erroneous DNS MX records pointing back to the origin, or issues within hybrid email environments like Microsoft 365.
- Domain Administrator's Responsibility: Only the recipient's domain administrator or IT department can resolve this error by correcting the server-side misconfiguration causing the loop.
- Acquired Domains and Routing: In cases of domain acquisition, like 'convio.com' being acquired by Blackbaud, old or unupdated mail routing can contribute to these issues.
Key considerations
- Notify Recipient Admin: As the error is almost always a recipient-side issue, senders should notify the recipient or their domain's mail administrator to investigate and resolve the underlying mail loop.
- Suppress Persistent Addresses: If the 'Hop count exceeded' error persists for a particular address after notification, the sender's only recourse may be to suppress that address from future mailings to protect sender reputation.
- Review Mail Flow Rules: Recipients and their administrators should meticulously review all mail flow rules, forwarding settings, aliases, and auto-responder configurations for any circular paths.
- Check DNS MX Records: Incorrect or conflicting DNS MX records that point mail back to an originating server are a common cause of mail loops and should be thoroughly checked.
- Inspect Hybrid/Dual Delivery Setups: Misconfigurations in hybrid Exchange environments or dual delivery setups, where messages are routed between multiple systems, frequently lead to 'hop count exceeded' errors.
What email marketers say
13 marketer opinions
A '5.4.14 Hop count exceeded' error typically signals a persistent mail loop, indicating an email has traversed too many servers-often hitting a limit of around 20-without reaching its final destination. This issue stems almost exclusively from misconfigurations on the recipient's mail infrastructure, not the sender's. Common culprits include improperly configured mail flow rules, circular forwarding settings, or incorrect DNS MX records that inadvertently redirect mail back into an infinite cycle, especially prevalent in complex hybrid Exchange environments. While senders have limited direct intervention, informing the recipient's IT administrator is crucial. If the problem persists for a specific address, the sender's best course of action is to suppress it from future mailings.
Key opinions
- Mail Loop Origin: The '5.4.14 Hop count exceeded' error is a definitive sign of an email caught in an endless loop between mail servers, exceeding the maximum allowed transfer count.
- Recipient Infrastructure Focus: This delivery failure is almost universally caused by misconfigurations within the destination server's email system, rather than originating from the sender's ESP or setup.
- Common Configuration Flaws: Primary causes include improperly set mail flow rules, circular email forwarding, incorrect DNS MX records creating return paths, and issues specific to hybrid email deployments like Microsoft 365.
- Sender's Limited Role: Senders cannot directly resolve a hop count error as it's a recipient-side problem; their primary action involves communication or, if persistent, list management.
- Third-Party Resolution: In specific cases, such as domains acquired by another entity, the issue may require intervention from the acquiring company's IT team to correct underlying routing problems.
Key considerations
- Recipient System Analysis: The recipient's IT administrators must thoroughly examine their mail flow rules, forwarding mechanisms, aliases, and DNS MX records for any circular configurations or misdirects.
- Hybrid Environment Specifics: Particular attention should be paid to complex setups like hybrid Exchange deployments, where mail might loop between on-premises and cloud servers due to conflicting rules.
- Forwarding Rule Review: A deep dive into all email forwarding rules is essential, as these are a frequent source of 'too many hops' errors when configured to send mail back to an originating point.
- Sender Communication Strategy: Senders should promptly inform the affected recipient about the delivery failure, emphasizing that it's a server-side issue requiring their IT team's intervention.
- Address Management for Persistence: If an email address consistently returns a hop count error, the sender should consider suppressing or removing it from their mailing list to maintain deliverability and prevent repeated bounces.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that the 'Hop count exceeded' error (554 5.4.14) means the message is looping between servers, hitting a limit of around 20 hops to prevent infinite loops. He suggests possible causes include a misconfigured hybrid environment, internal Microsoft 365 issues, or forwarding loops where messages are sent back to 365, clarifying that it's a destination server issue, not an ESP problem.
28 Oct 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks advises that there's nothing the sender can do about a 'Hop count exceeded' error other than suppress the broken address if it persists. He also notes that `postmaster@` aliases are often broken and should not be on an email list for bulk sending.
5 Jan 2022 - Email Geeks
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
The '5.4.14 Hop count exceeded' error occurs when an email becomes stuck in a perpetual routing loop, continuously bouncing between mail servers and exceeding the maximum allowed transfer limit. This issue almost invariably points to a fundamental misconfiguration within the recipient's email infrastructure. Expert insights highlight that these errors are frequently associated with Microsoft Outlook accounts due to status changes like account migration, misconfiguration, or even service payment lapses. Moreover, problems can arise if mail is forwarded by one system, like Microsoft, only to be blocked or redirected incorrectly by another, such as an IronPort gateway, creating a circular path. The crucial takeaway for senders is that this is not their problem, resolution rests solely with the recipient's domain administrator, who must identify and correct the underlying routing flaw.
Key opinions
- Routing Loop Defined: The '5.4.14 Hop count exceeded' error signifies an email message caught in an endless loop between mail servers, indicating a failure to reach its destination due to excessive transfers.
- Recipient-Side Origin: This deliverability issue is almost always caused by a misconfiguration within the receiving email server's setup, not the sender's system or practices.
- Outlook/Microsoft Specifics: The problem is often linked to Microsoft Outlook environments, potentially due to accounts being moved, misconfigured, or experiencing service interruptions.
- Misrouted Forwards: Errors can occur when a message is forwarded by one system, like Microsoft, and then improperly handled or redirected by a subsequent mail gateway, leading to a loop.
- Administrator's Role: Only the recipient's domain administrator or IT team has the capability to diagnose and rectify the server-side configuration that is causing the email loop.
- Sender Non-Responsibility: Senders are not accountable for fixing this error, as it lies entirely within the recipient's mail infrastructure.
Key considerations
- Notify Recipient Admin: Senders should promptly inform the recipient or their mail administrator about the 'hop count exceeded' error, as they are the only ones who can resolve it.
- Examine Server Configuration: Recipient administrators must thoroughly inspect their mail server configurations, including forwarding rules, aliases, and DNS MX records, for any circular routing paths.
- Address Outlook Account Status: If the error is related to an Outlook account, investigation should include account status, migration history, and payment standing.
- Review Inter-System Routing: For organizations using multiple email systems or gateways, like Microsoft and a third-party security gateway, review how messages are routed and forwarded between them to prevent loops.
- Assess Domain Validity: In some cases, persistent 'hop count exceeded' errors might indicate an invalid or legacy email address, especially for domains with unusual or outdated MX records.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks states that the 'Hop count exceeded' error is an Outlook-related issue that sometimes occurs when an account is moving, misconfigured, or due to lapsed service payments. He emphasizes that only the domain administrator can fix it.
27 Dec 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that the error can occur if Microsoft forwards a message and it's then blocked at the other end, confirming it's not the sender's problem. She points out that `convio.com` has an MX record pointing to IronPort (iphmx), not Microsoft, indicating potentially messed-up mail routing. She concludes that, based on their website, email addresses at `convio.com` are unlikely to be valid.
21 Apr 2022 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
3 technical articles
The '5.4.14 Hop count exceeded' email delivery error indicates an email has become trapped in an infinite forwarding loop, endlessly circulating between mail servers and surpassing the maximum allowed transfer count. This common issue is nearly always attributable to misconfigurations within the recipient's mail system. Leading causes include incorrectly defined mail flow rules, improperly configured dual delivery setups, flawed DNS MX records that redirect messages back to the originating server, or circular email forwarding rules and aliases. Essentially, the message cannot reach its destination because it's caught in a perpetual bounce cycle.
Key findings
- Email Loop Indicator: The '5.4.14 Hop count exceeded' error is a clear sign that an email message is trapped in an infinite loop, exceeding the maximum allowable number of transfers between servers.
- Routing Misconfigurations: This error is primarily caused by faulty mail routing settings within the recipient's email infrastructure, leading to a circular path for the message.
- Common Causes Identified: Specific causes include incorrect mail flow rules, misconfigured dual delivery systems, erroneous DNS MX records that loop back to the sender, and problematic email forwarding rules or aliases.
- Indefinite Bouncing: The underlying issue is that the email continuously bounces between servers without ever reaching its final intended recipient, due to these configuration flaws.
Key considerations
- Review Mail Flow Rules: Administrators should meticulously examine all existing mail flow rules for any configurations that could inadvertently create a circular path, directing messages back to a previous server.
- Validate DNS MX Records: It is crucial to verify DNS MX records to ensure they correctly point to the intended mail server and do not, by error, redirect mail back to the originating server, which causes loops.
- Inspect Forwarding/Aliases: A thorough review of all email forwarding rules and aliases is necessary, as incorrect setups frequently send messages into an endless cycle.
- Assess Dual Delivery Setups: For organizations utilizing dual delivery or hybrid email environments, a careful audit of how messages are handled between systems is vital to prevent infinite loops.
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft Learn explains that the 5.4.14 error, "Hop count exceeded," is typically caused by a mail loop. This often occurs due to incorrect mail flow rules, misconfigured dual delivery setups, or erroneous DNS MX records that point back to the originating server, causing the message to bounce indefinitely between servers.
22 Jul 2021 - Microsoft Learn
Technical article
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help indicates that an email error like "Too many hops" signifies an infinite email loop. This is often a result of misconfigured mail routing settings, incorrect email forwarding rules, or issues with dual delivery setups where an email is continuously bounced between servers.
23 Oct 2021 - Google Workspace Admin Help
How can I resolve email delivery errors due to tempfail and suspected spam?
How to resolve email delivery issues caused by a potentially defunct RBL?
How to resolve Yahoo TS-04 email delivery errors?
How to troubleshoot 'connection refused' email delivery errors?
How to troubleshoot email delivery issues related to RFC compliance errors?
What does 'rate limit exceeded' mean in email delivery, and how do I troubleshoot it?
