A method, system, and computer programming product for returning a response directly to a transaction request originator in a customer information control system (CICS) is provided. The method can include receiving a transaction request in a CICS and allocating resources in the CICS in response to receiving the transaction request. The method additionally can include determining whether the CICS is an intended endpoint of the transaction request. Finally, the method can include extracting an address of an originator of the transaction request from the transaction request and sending a response to the originator at the extracted address upon determining that the CICS is the intended endpoint of the transaction request, but otherwise routing the transaction request to a different CICS along with the address within the transaction request.