Elimination of inoperable service node during call set up

In a service control point (SCP) having logic normally dictating that a call destined to a called party should be routed instead to a service node for handling, a method includes making a determination that the service node has become unavailable. The method thereafter includes receiving, into the SCP, a signal from a switch, the signal indicating that the switch has received a request to set up a call to the called party. In view of the determination that the service node has become unavailable, the method then includes the SCP instructing the switch to treat the first call in a manner other than routing the call to the service node.