diff --git a/balancer/grpclb/grpclb.go b/balancer/grpclb/grpclb.go
index 15cbc105..0a48533c 100644
--- a/balancer/grpclb/grpclb.go
+++ b/balancer/grpclb/grpclb.go
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import (
 	lbpb "google.golang.org/grpc/balancer/grpclb/grpc_lb_v1"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/connectivity"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/grpclog"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/internal/backoff"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/resolver"
 )
 
@@ -46,6 +47,19 @@ const (
 	grpclbName             = "grpclb"
 )
 
+var (
+	// defaultBackoffConfig configures the backoff strategy that's used when the
+	// init handshake in the RPC is unsuccessful. It's not for the clientconn
+	// reconnect backoff.
+	//
+	// It has the same value as the default grpc.DefaultBackoffConfig.
+	//
+	// TODO: make backoff configurable.
+	defaultBackoffConfig = backoff.Exponential{
+		MaxDelay: 120 * time.Second,
+	}
+)
+
 func convertDuration(d *durationpb.Duration) time.Duration {
 	if d == nil {
 		return 0
@@ -147,6 +161,7 @@ func (b *lbBuilder) Build(cc balancer.ClientConn, opt balancer.BuildOptions) bal
 		scStates:       make(map[balancer.SubConn]connectivity.State),
 		picker:         &errPicker{err: balancer.ErrNoSubConnAvailable},
 		clientStats:    newRPCStats(),
+		backoff:        defaultBackoffConfig, // TODO: make backoff configurable.
 	}
 
 	return lb
@@ -165,6 +180,8 @@ type lbBalancer struct {
 	manualResolver *lbManualResolver
 	// The ClientConn to talk to the remote balancer.
 	ccRemoteLB *grpc.ClientConn
+	// backoff for calling remote balancer.
+	backoff backoff.Strategy
 
 	// Support client side load reporting. Each picker gets a reference to this,
 	// and will update its content.
diff --git a/balancer/grpclb/grpclb_remote_balancer.go b/balancer/grpclb/grpclb_remote_balancer.go
index 8c399b33..fb4c117b 100644
--- a/balancer/grpclb/grpclb_remote_balancer.go
+++ b/balancer/grpclb/grpclb_remote_balancer.go
@@ -179,13 +179,13 @@ func (lb *lbBalancer) sendLoadReport(s *balanceLoadClientStream, interval time.D
 	}
 }
 
-func (lb *lbBalancer) callRemoteBalancer() error {
+func (lb *lbBalancer) callRemoteBalancer() (backoff bool, _ error) {
 	lbClient := &loadBalancerClient{cc: lb.ccRemoteLB}
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	defer cancel()
 	stream, err := lbClient.BalanceLoad(ctx, grpc.FailFast(false))
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("grpclb: failed to perform RPC to the remote balancer %v", err)
+		return true, fmt.Errorf("grpclb: failed to perform RPC to the remote balancer %v", err)
 	}
 
 	// grpclb handshake on the stream.
@@ -197,18 +197,18 @@ func (lb *lbBalancer) callRemoteBalancer() error {
 		},
 	}
 	if err := stream.Send(initReq); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("grpclb: failed to send init request: %v", err)
+		return true, fmt.Errorf("grpclb: failed to send init request: %v", err)
 	}
 	reply, err := stream.Recv()
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("grpclb: failed to recv init response: %v", err)
+		return true, fmt.Errorf("grpclb: failed to recv init response: %v", err)
 	}
 	initResp := reply.GetInitialResponse()
 	if initResp == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("grpclb: reply from remote balancer did not include initial response")
+		return true, fmt.Errorf("grpclb: reply from remote balancer did not include initial response")
 	}
 	if initResp.LoadBalancerDelegate != "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("grpclb: Delegation is not supported")
+		return true, fmt.Errorf("grpclb: Delegation is not supported")
 	}
 
 	go func() {
@@ -216,12 +216,14 @@ func (lb *lbBalancer) callRemoteBalancer() error {
 			lb.sendLoadReport(stream, d)
 		}
 	}()
-	return lb.readServerList(stream)
+	// No backoff if init req/resp handshake was successful.
+	return false, lb.readServerList(stream)
 }
 
 func (lb *lbBalancer) watchRemoteBalancer() {
+	var retryCount int
 	for {
-		err := lb.callRemoteBalancer()
+		doBackoff, err := lb.callRemoteBalancer()
 		select {
 		case <-lb.doneCh:
 			return
@@ -231,6 +233,19 @@ func (lb *lbBalancer) watchRemoteBalancer() {
 			}
 		}
 
+		if !doBackoff {
+			retryCount = 0
+			continue
+		}
+
+		timer := time.NewTimer(lb.backoff.Backoff(retryCount))
+		select {
+		case <-timer.C:
+		case <-lb.doneCh:
+			timer.Stop()
+			return
+		}
+		retryCount++
 	}
 }