A packet switching network having a malfunction list is provided to reduce network congestion. According to an exemplary embodiment, each node in the network includes a malfunction list which stores an unavailability value representing a state of unavailability of certain addressees in the network. Before sending a packet to an addressee, the node consults its own malfunction list to determine the unavailability value of the addressee. A packet addressed to an unavailable addressee is selectively returned to the sender by the node rather than travelling through the network to the addressee and back through the network to the sender. Packets can be returned to the sender with a probability proportional to the unavailability value of the addressee so that transmission is gradually resumed after a state of unavailability as the unavailability value decreases over time.