A method and related apparatus are provided for restoring a connection through a provider network (PN). In particular, a connection is established along a path (P1) through the provider network (PN) for the transport of client traffic between two client network nodes (CR1, CR2) of a client network (CD1, CD2). Any restoration service for this connection is deactivated. However, when a failure (F1) is detected along the path (P1) which affects the connection, a path search is performed anyhow to determine a projected restoration path (P2) through the provider network (PN) available to restore said failed connection. In the case that the path search was successful and a projected restoration path (P2) was found, the availability of the projected restoration path (P2) is communicated (MS1, MS2) to the client network (CD1, CD2). The client can now decide whether to accept a temporary service upgrade to restoration service or not. Only after receipt of a confirmation (CM1, CM2) from said client network (CD1, CD2), a path restoration is performed to restore the failed connection over the projected restoration path (P2).