To provide client-side fault-tolerance in a publish-subscribe system, a message is received on a channel from a server. At a function executing using a processor and a memory, a determination is made whether the message contains a heartbeat data. When the message contains the heartbeat data, a determination is made whether a content signature contained in the message matches a last known content signature saved from a previous message. When the content signature contained in the message does not match the last known content signature saved from a previous message, a refresh message is sent to the channel.