diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c980135..bb76800 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ PgLOG.pglog("hello", PgLOG.LOGWRN)
 python -c "import rda_python_common; print(rda_python_common.__version__)"
 ```
 
-You should see the installed version (currently `3.0.19`).  If the import
+You should see the installed version (currently `3.0.20`).  If the import
 fails, double-check that the active Python environment is the one where you
 ran `pip install`.
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 801693c..5e0af89 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "rda_python_common"
-version = "3.0.19"
+version = "3.0.20"
 authors = [
   { name="Zaihua Ji", email="zji@ucar.edu" },
 ]
diff --git a/src/rda_python_common/__init__.py b/src/rda_python_common/__init__.py
index c170f19..28abc0f 100644
--- a/src/rda_python_common/__init__.py
+++ b/src/rda_python_common/__init__.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 from . import PgLOG, PgUtil, PgDBI, PgFile, PgLock, PgCMD, PgSIG, PgOPT, PgSplit
 
-__version__ = "3.0.19"
+__version__ = "3.0.20"
 
 __all__ = [
    "PgLOG",
diff --git a/src/rda_python_common/pg_file.py b/src/rda_python_common/pg_file.py
index a94a811..c3c1eef 100644
--- a/src/rda_python_common/pg_file.py
+++ b/src/rda_python_common/pg_file.py
@@ -118,7 +118,9 @@ def __init__(self):
       # record how many errors happen for working with HPSS, local or remote machines
       self.ECNTS = {'D': 0, 'H': 0, 'L': 0, 'R': 0, 'O': 0, 'B': 0}
       # up limits for how many continuing errors allowed
-      self.ELMTS = {'D': 20, 'H': 20, 'L': 20, 'R': 20, 'O': 10, 'B': 10}
+      # 'B' is 5 because a failed Globus transfer counts once; it used to be logged
+      # twice per failure, so the old limit of 10 also gave up after 5 failures
+      self.ELMTS = {'D': 20, 'H': 20, 'L': 20, 'R': 20, 'O': 10, 'B': 5}
       # down storage hostnames & paths
       self.DHOSTS = {
          'G': self.PGLOG['GPFSNAME'],
diff --git a/src/rda_python_common/pg_log.py b/src/rda_python_common/pg_log.py
index cbfdac3..7374448 100644
--- a/src/rda_python_common/pg_log.py
+++ b/src/rda_python_common/pg_log.py
@@ -249,9 +249,13 @@ def set_email(self, msg, logact=0):
             if self.PGLOG['PRGMSG']:
                msg = self.PGLOG['PRGMSG'] + "\n" + msg
                self.PGLOG['PRGMSG'] = ""
+            # callers usually end the message with their own '!', so do not add a second
+            # one, and drop it before continuing the sentence with the error count
             if self.PGLOG['ERRCNT'] == 0:
-               if not msg.endswith('\n'): msg += "!\n"
+               if not msg.endswith('\n'):
+                  msg += "\n" if msg.endswith('!') else "!\n"
             else:
+               if msg.endswith('!'): msg = msg[:-1]
                if self.PGLOG['ERRCNT'] == 1:
                   msg += " with 1 Error:\n"
                else: