defer conn.Close()

	_, pingErr := conn.Do("PING")
	if pingErr != nil {
		if xnet.IsConnRefusedErr(pingErr) {
			return store.ErrNotConnected
		}
		return pingErr
	}

	if !target.firstPing {
		if err := target.args.validateFormat(conn); err != nil {
			if xnet.IsConnRefusedErr(err) {
				return store.ErrNotConnected
			}
			return err
		}
		target.firstPing = true
	}

		if err != nil {
			return false, err
		}
		target.producer = producer
	}

	if err := target.producer.Ping(); err != nil {
		// To treat "connection refused" errors as errNotConnected.
		if xnet.IsConnRefusedErr(err) {
			return false, store.ErrNotConnected
		}
		return false, err
	}
	return true, nil
}

// Save - saves the events to the store which will be replayed when the nsq connection is active.