diff --git a/docs/api.rst b/docs/api.rst
index 2c4dc42f..f69f1405 100644
--- a/docs/api.rst
+++ b/docs/api.rst
@@ -338,6 +338,12 @@ Message Class
 
     .. attribute:: data
 
+    .. attribute:: is_dead
+
+        :data:`True` if :attr:`reply_to` is set to the magic value
+        :data:`mitogen.core.IS_DEAD`, indicating the sender considers the
+        channel dead.
+
     .. py:method:: __init__ (\**kwargs)
 
         Construct a message from from the supplied `kwargs`. :py:attr:`src_id`
@@ -362,15 +368,18 @@ Message Class
         :raises mitogen.core.CallError:
             The serialized data contained CallError exception.
         :raises mitogen.core.ChannelError:
-            The serialized data contained :py:data:`mitogen.core._DEAD`.
+            The `is_dead` field was set.
 
-    .. method:: reply (obj, \**kwargs)
+    .. method:: reply (obj, router=None, \**kwargs)
 
-        Compose a pickled reply to this message and send it using
-        :py:attr:`router`.
+        Compose a reply to this message and send it using :py:attr:`router`, or
+        `router` is :py:attr:`router` is :data:`None`.
 
         :param obj:
-            Object to serialize.
+            Either a :class:`Message`, or an object to be serialized in order
+            to construct a new message.
+        :param router:
+            Optional router to use if :attr:`router` is :data:`None`.
         :param kwargs:
             Optional keyword parameters overriding message fields in the reply.
 
@@ -429,7 +438,7 @@ Router Class
 
         :param mitogen.core.Context respondent:
             Context that messages to this handle are expected to be sent from.
-            If specified, arranges for :py:data:`_DEAD` to be delivered to `fn`
+            If specified, arranges for a dead message to be delivered to `fn`
             when disconnection of the context is detected.
 
             In future `respondent` will likely also be used to prevent other
@@ -943,7 +952,7 @@ Receiver Class
 
     :param mitogen.core.Context respondent:
         Reference to the context this receiver is receiving from. If not
-        ``None``, arranges for the receiver to receive :py:data:`_DEAD` if
+        ``None``, arranges for the receiver to receive a dead message if
         messages can no longer be routed to the context, due to disconnection
         or exit.
 
@@ -1046,8 +1055,8 @@ Sender Class
 
     .. py:method:: close ()
 
-        Send :py:data:`_DEAD` to the remote end, causing
-        :py:meth:`ChannelError` to be raised in any waiting thread.
+        Send a dead message to the remote end, causing :py:meth:`ChannelError`
+        to be raised in any waiting thread.
 
     .. py:method:: send (data)
 
diff --git a/docs/getting_started.rst b/docs/getting_started.rst
index af529b00..21bc0c35 100644
--- a/docs/getting_started.rst
+++ b/docs/getting_started.rst
@@ -310,7 +310,6 @@ User-defined types may not be used, except for:
 * :py:class:`mitogen.core.CallError`
 * :py:class:`mitogen.core.Context`
 * :py:class:`mitogen.core.Sender`
-* :py:class:`mitogen.core._DEAD`
 
 Subclasses of built-in types must be undecorated using
 :py:func:`mitogen.utils.cast`.
diff --git a/docs/howitworks.rst b/docs/howitworks.rst
index dd7c299f..0e48a538 100644
--- a/docs/howitworks.rst
+++ b/docs/howitworks.rst
@@ -294,6 +294,7 @@ parent and child:
       - 4
       - Integer target handle to direct any reply to this message. Used to
         receive a one-time reply, such as the return value of a function call.
+        :data:`IS_DEAD` has a special meaning when it appears in this field.
 
     * - `length`
       - 4
@@ -341,6 +342,22 @@ Masters listen on the following handles:
     million parent contexts to be created and destroyed before the associated
     Router must be recreated.
 
+.. _IS_DEAD:
+.. currentmodule:: mitogen.core
+.. data:: IS_DEAD
+
+    Special value used to signal disconnection or the inability to route a
+    message, when it appears in the `reply_to` field. Usually causes
+    :class:`mitogen.core.ChannelError` to be raised when it is received.
+
+    It indicates the sender did not know how to process the message, or wishes
+    no further messages to be delivered to it. It is used when:
+
+    * a remote receiver is disconnected or explicitly closed.
+    * a related message could not be delivered due to no route existing for it.
+    * a router is being torn down, as a sentinel value to notify
+      :py:meth:`mitogen.core.Router.add_handler` callbacks to clean up.
+
 
 Children listen on the following handles:
 
@@ -373,7 +390,7 @@ Children listen on the following handles:
     imports ``mod_name``, then attempts to execute
     `class_name.func_name(\*args, \**kwargs)`.
 
-    When this channel is closed (by way of sending :py:data:`_DEAD` to it), the
+    When this channel is closed (by way of receiving a dead message), the
     child's main thread begins graceful shutdown of its own :py:class:`Broker`
     and :py:class:`Router`.
 
@@ -382,7 +399,7 @@ Children listen on the following handles:
 .. data:: SHUTDOWN
 
     When received from a child's immediate parent, causes the broker thread to
-    enter graceful shutdown, including writing :py:data:`_DEAD` to the child's
+    enter graceful shutdown, including sending a dead message to the child's
     main thread, causing it to join on the exit of the broker thread.
 
     The final step of a child's broker shutdown process sends
@@ -433,20 +450,6 @@ Additional handles are created to receive the result of every function call
 triggered by :py:meth:`call_async() <mitogen.parent.Context.call_async>`.
 
 
-Sentinel Value
-##############
-
-.. _DEAD:
-.. currentmodule:: mitogen.core
-.. data:: _DEAD
-
-    This special value is used to signal disconnection or closure of the remote
-    end. It is used internally by :py:class:`Channel <mitogen.core.Channel>`
-    and also passed to any function still registered with
-    :py:meth:`add_handler() <mitogen.core.Router.add_handler>` during Broker
-    shutdown.
-
-
 Use of Pickle
 #############
 
@@ -458,7 +461,7 @@ in the bootstrap.
 
 The pickler will instantiate only built-in types and one of 3 constructor
 functions, to support unpickling :py:class:`CallError
-<mitogen.core.CallError>`, :py:data:`_DEAD <mitogen.core._DEAD>`, and
+<mitogen.core.CallError>`, :py:class:`mitogen.core.Sender`,and
 :py:class:`Context <mitogen.core.Context>`.
 
 The choice of Pickle is one area to be revisited later. All accounts suggest it
diff --git a/docs/internals.rst b/docs/internals.rst
index 842ac4e2..b6c3d069 100644
--- a/docs/internals.rst
+++ b/docs/internals.rst
@@ -400,16 +400,21 @@ Helper Functions
         disconnection was detected, otherwise ``False``.
 
 
-.. currentmodule:: mitogen.master
+.. currentmodule:: mitogen.parent
 
 .. autofunction:: create_child
 
 
-.. currentmodule:: mitogen.master
+.. currentmodule:: mitogen.parent
 
 .. autofunction:: tty_create_child
 
 
+.. currentmodule:: mitogen.parent
+
+.. autofunction:: hybrid_tty_create_child
+
+
 .. currentmodule:: mitogen.master
 
 .. function:: get_child_modules (path)
diff --git a/mitogen/core.py b/mitogen/core.py
index 20f52554..dbac6f0d 100644
--- a/mitogen/core.py
+++ b/mitogen/core.py
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ DEL_ROUTE = 104
 ALLOCATE_ID = 105
 SHUTDOWN = 106
 LOAD_MODULE = 107
+IS_DEAD = 999
 
 PY3 = sys.version_info > (3,)
 if PY3:
@@ -146,30 +147,6 @@ class TimeoutError(Error):
     pass
 
 
-class Dead(object):
-    def __hash__(self):
-        return hash(Dead)
-
-    def __eq__(self, other):
-        return type(other) is Dead
-
-    def __ne__(self, other):
-        return type(other) is not Dead
-
-    def __reduce__(self):
-        return (_unpickle_dead, ())
-
-    def __repr__(self):
-        return '<Dead>'
-
-
-def _unpickle_dead():
-    return _DEAD
-
-
-_DEAD = Dead()
-
-
 def has_parent_authority(msg, _stream=None):
     return (msg.auth_id == mitogen.context_id or
             msg.auth_id in mitogen.parent_ids)
@@ -328,8 +305,6 @@ class Message(object):
         if module == __name__:
             if func == '_unpickle_call_error':
                 return _unpickle_call_error
-            elif func == '_unpickle_dead':
-                return _unpickle_dead
             elif func == '_unpickle_sender':
                 return self._unpickle_sender
             elif func == '_unpickle_context':
@@ -337,6 +312,14 @@ class Message(object):
 
         raise StreamError('cannot unpickle %r/%r', module, func)
 
+    @property
+    def is_dead(self):
+        return self.reply_to == IS_DEAD
+
+    @classmethod
+    def dead(cls, **kwargs):
+        return cls(reply_to=IS_DEAD, **kwargs)
+
     @classmethod
     def pickled(cls, obj, **kwargs):
         self = cls(**kwargs)
@@ -347,15 +330,20 @@ class Message(object):
             self.data = cPickle.dumps(CallError(e), protocol=2)
         return self
 
-    def reply(self, obj, **kwargs):
-        kwargs.setdefault('handle', self.reply_to)
-        self.router.route(
-            self.pickled(obj, dst_id=self.src_id, **kwargs)
-        )
+    def reply(self, msg, router=None, **kwargs):
+        if not isinstance(msg, Message):
+            msg = Message.pickled(msg)
+        msg.dst_id = self.src_id
+        msg.handle = self.reply_to
+        vars(msg).update(kwargs)
+        (self.router or router).route(msg)
 
     def unpickle(self, throw=True, throw_dead=True):
         """Deserialize `data` into an object."""
         _vv and IOLOG.debug('%r.unpickle()', self)
+        if throw_dead and self.is_dead:
+            raise ChannelError(ChannelError.remote_msg)
+
         obj = self._unpickled
         if obj is Message._unpickled:
             fp = BytesIO(self.data)
@@ -374,8 +362,6 @@ class Message(object):
                 raise StreamError('invalid message: %s', e)
 
         if throw:
-            if obj == _DEAD and throw_dead:
-                raise ChannelError(ChannelError.remote_msg)
             if isinstance(obj, CallError):
                 raise obj
 
@@ -402,22 +388,12 @@ class Sender(object):
     def close(self):
         """Indicate this channel is closed to the remote side."""
         _vv and IOLOG.debug('%r.close()', self)
-        self.context.send(
-            Message.pickled(
-                _DEAD,
-                handle=self.dst_handle
-            )
-        )
+        self.context.send(Message.dead(handle=self.dst_handle))
 
     def send(self, data):
         """Send `data` to the remote."""
         _vv and IOLOG.debug('%r.send(%r..)', self, repr(data)[:100])
-        self.context.send(
-            Message.pickled(
-                data,
-                handle=self.dst_handle
-            )
-        )
+        self.context.send(Message.pickled(data, handle=self.dst_handle))
 
 
 def _unpickle_sender(router, context_id, dst_handle):
@@ -460,7 +436,7 @@ class Receiver(object):
             self.notify(self)
 
     def close(self):
-        self._latch.put(_DEAD)
+        self._latch.put(Message.dead())
 
     def empty(self):
         return self._latch.empty()
@@ -468,10 +444,11 @@ class Receiver(object):
     def get(self, timeout=None, block=True):
         _vv and IOLOG.debug('%r.get(timeout=%r, block=%r)', self, timeout, block)
         msg = self._latch.get(timeout=timeout, block=block)
-        #IOLOG.debug('%r.get() got %r', self, msg)
-
-        if msg == _DEAD:
-            raise ChannelError(ChannelError.local_msg)
+        if msg.is_dead:
+            if msg.src_id == mitogen.context_id:
+                raise ChannelError(ChannelError.local_msg)
+            else:
+                raise ChannelError(ChannelError.remote_msg)
         return msg
 
     def __iter__(self):
@@ -630,7 +607,7 @@ class Importer(object):
             os.environ['PBR_VERSION'] = '0.0.0'
 
     def _on_load_module(self, msg):
-        if msg == _DEAD:
+        if msg.is_dead:
             return
 
         tup = msg.unpickle()
@@ -1275,7 +1252,7 @@ class Router(object):
     def _on_broker_exit(self):
         while self._handle_map:
             _, (_, func, _) = self._handle_map.popitem()
-            func(_DEAD)
+            func(Message.dead())
 
     def register(self, context, stream):
         _v and LOG.debug('register(%r, %r)', context, stream)
@@ -1295,7 +1272,7 @@ class Router(object):
                 return msg.src_id == respondent.context_id
             def on_disconnect():
                 if handle in self._handle_map:
-                    fn(_DEAD)
+                    fn(Message.dead())
                     del self._handle_map[handle]
             listen(respondent, 'disconnect', on_disconnect)
 
@@ -1309,7 +1286,7 @@ class Router(object):
         fire(self, 'shutdown')
         for handle, (persist, fn) in self._handle_map.iteritems():
             _v and LOG.debug('%r.on_shutdown(): killing %r: %r', self, handle, fn)
-            fn(_DEAD)
+            fn(Message.dead())
 
     refused_msg = 'Refused by policy.'
 
@@ -1319,6 +1296,8 @@ class Router(object):
             persist, fn, policy = self._handle_map[msg.handle]
         except KeyError:
             LOG.error('%r: invalid handle: %r', self, msg)
+            if msg.reply_to and not msg.is_dead:
+                msg.reply(Message.dead())
             return
 
         if policy and not policy(msg, stream):
@@ -1375,6 +1354,8 @@ class Router(object):
         if stream is None:
             LOG.error('%r: no route for %r, my ID is %r',
                       self, msg, mitogen.context_id)
+            if msg.reply_to and not msg.is_dead:
+                msg.reply(Message.dead(), router=self)
             return
 
         stream._send(msg)
@@ -1510,7 +1491,7 @@ class ExternalContext(object):
 
     def _on_shutdown_msg(self, msg):
         _v and LOG.debug('_on_shutdown_msg(%r)', msg)
-        if msg != _DEAD:
+        if not msg.is_dead:
             self.broker.shutdown()
 
     def _on_parent_disconnect(self):
diff --git a/mitogen/fakessh.py b/mitogen/fakessh.py
index e07916ad..6a7303ab 100644
--- a/mitogen/fakessh.py
+++ b/mitogen/fakessh.py
@@ -134,20 +134,17 @@ class Process(object):
         self.control.put(('exit', status))
 
     def _on_stdin(self, msg):
-        if msg == mitogen.core._DEAD:
-            return
-
-        data = msg.unpickle(throw=False)
-        if data == mitogen.core._DEAD:
+        if msg.is_dead:
             IOLOG.debug('%r._on_stdin() -> %r', self, data)
             self.pump.close()
             return
 
+        data = msg.unpickle()
         IOLOG.debug('%r._on_stdin() -> len %d', self, len(data))
         self.pump.write(data)
 
     def _on_control(self, msg):
-        if msg != mitogen.core._DEAD:
+        if not msg.is_dead:
             command, arg = msg.unpickle(throw=False)
             LOG.debug('%r._on_control(%r, %s)', self, command, arg)
 
diff --git a/mitogen/master.py b/mitogen/master.py
index 9025810a..1e46a916 100644
--- a/mitogen/master.py
+++ b/mitogen/master.py
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ class LogForwarder(object):
         )
 
     def _on_forward_log(self, msg):
-        if msg == mitogen.core._DEAD:
+        if msg.is_dead:
             return
 
         logger = self._cache.get(msg.src_id)
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ class ModuleResponder(object):
         stream.sent_modules.add(fullname)
 
     def _on_get_module(self, msg):
-        if msg == mitogen.core._DEAD:
+        if msg.is_dead:
             return
 
         LOG.debug('%r._on_get_module(%r)', self, msg.data)
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ class IdAllocator(object):
             self.lock.release()
 
     def on_allocate_id(self, msg):
-        if msg == mitogen.core._DEAD:
+        if msg.is_dead:
             return
 
         id_, last_id = self.allocate_block()
diff --git a/mitogen/parent.py b/mitogen/parent.py
index 3392f220..2868c93a 100644
--- a/mitogen/parent.py
+++ b/mitogen/parent.py
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ class RouteMonitor(object):
                 mitogen.core.fire(context, 'disconnect')
 
     def _on_add_route(self, msg):
-        if msg == mitogen.core._DEAD:
+        if msg.is_dead:
             return
 
         target_id_s, _, target_name = msg.data.partition(':')
@@ -870,7 +870,7 @@ class RouteMonitor(object):
         self.propagate(mitogen.core.ADD_ROUTE, target_id, target_name)
 
     def _on_del_route(self, msg):
-        if msg == mitogen.core._DEAD:
+        if msg.is_dead:
             return
 
         target_id = int(msg.data)
@@ -1055,7 +1055,7 @@ class ModuleForwarder(object):
 
     def _on_get_module(self, msg):
         LOG.debug('%r._on_get_module(%r)', self, msg)
-        if msg == mitogen.core._DEAD:
+        if msg.is_dead:
             return
 
         fullname = msg.data
diff --git a/mitogen/utils.py b/mitogen/utils.py
index 0b025b8a..ab8a673a 100644
--- a/mitogen/utils.py
+++ b/mitogen/utils.py
@@ -112,7 +112,6 @@ def cast(obj):
     if isinstance(obj, str):
         return str(obj)
     if isinstance(obj, (mitogen.core.Context,
-                        mitogen.core.Dead,
                         mitogen.core.CallError)):
         return obj
 
diff --git a/tests/call_function_test.py b/tests/call_function_test.py
index de3f1f46..199aaa77 100644
--- a/tests/call_function_test.py
+++ b/tests/call_function_test.py
@@ -25,10 +25,6 @@ def func_with_bad_return_value():
     return CrazyType()
 
 
-def func_returns_dead():
-    return mitogen.core._DEAD
-
-
 def func_accepts_returns_context(context):
     return context
 
@@ -69,9 +65,6 @@ class CallFunctionTest(testlib.RouterMixin, testlib.TestCase):
                 "cannot unpickle '%s'/'CrazyType'" % (__name__,),
         )
 
-    def test_returns_dead(self):
-        self.assertEqual(mitogen.core._DEAD, self.local.call(func_returns_dead))
-
     def test_aborted_on_local_context_disconnect(self):
         stream = self.router._stream_by_id[self.local.context_id]
         self.broker.stop_receive(stream)
diff --git a/tests/router_test.py b/tests/router_test.py
index 2c0b7e60..09c54245 100644
--- a/tests/router_test.py
+++ b/tests/router_test.py
@@ -159,8 +159,8 @@ class CrashTest(testlib.BrokerMixin, unittest2.TestCase):
         self.broker._loop_once = self._naughty
         self.broker.defer(lambda: None)
 
-        # sem should have received _DEAD.
-        self.assertEquals(mitogen.core._DEAD, sem.get())
+        # sem should have received dead message.
+        self.assertTrue(sem.get().is_dead)
 
         # Ensure it was logged.
         expect = '_broker_main() crashed'
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ class AddHandlerTest(unittest2.TestCase):
         queue = Queue.Queue()
         handle = router.add_handler(queue.put)
         router.broker.shutdown()
-        self.assertEquals(queue.get(timeout=5), mitogen.core._DEAD)
+        self.assertTrue(queue.get(timeout=5).is_dead)
 
 
 class MessageSizeTest(testlib.BrokerMixin, unittest2.TestCase):
@@ -218,5 +218,47 @@ class MessageSizeTest(testlib.BrokerMixin, unittest2.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(expect in logs.stop())
 
 
+class NoRouteTest(testlib.RouterMixin, testlib.TestCase):
+    def test_invalid_handle_returns_dead(self):
+        # Verify sending a message to an invalid handle yields a dead message
+        # from the target context.
+        l1 = self.router.fork()
+        recv = l1.send_async(mitogen.core.Message(handle=999))
+        e = self.assertRaises(mitogen.core.ChannelError,
+            lambda: recv.get()
+        )
+        self.assertEquals(e.args[0], mitogen.core.ChannelError.remote_msg)
+
+    def test_totally_invalid_context_returns_dead(self):
+        recv = mitogen.core.Receiver(self.router)
+        self.router.route(
+            mitogen.core.Message(
+                dst_id=1234,
+                handle=1234,
+                reply_to=recv.handle,
+            )
+        )
+        e = self.assertRaises(mitogen.core.ChannelError,
+            lambda: recv.get()
+        )
+        self.assertEquals(e.args[0], mitogen.core.ChannelError.local_msg)
+
+    def test_previously_alive_context_returns_dead(self):
+        l1 = self.router.fork()
+        l1.shutdown(wait=True)
+        recv = mitogen.core.Receiver(self.router)
+        self.router.route(
+            mitogen.core.Message(
+                dst_id=l1.context_id,
+                handle=mitogen.core.CALL_FUNCTION,
+                reply_to=recv.handle,
+            )
+        )
+        e = self.assertRaises(mitogen.core.ChannelError,
+            lambda: recv.get()
+        )
+        self.assertEquals(e.args[0], mitogen.core.ChannelError.local_msg)
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest2.main()