diff --git a/cmd/ethereum/flags.go b/cmd/ethereum/flags.go
index 5e32562085..275fcf248c 100644
--- a/cmd/ethereum/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/ethereum/flags.go
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ var (
 	VmType          int
 	ImportChain     string
 	SHH             bool
+	Dial            bool
 )
 
 // flags specific to cli client
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ func Init() {
 	flag.BoolVar(&NonInteractive, "y", false, "non-interactive mode (say yes to confirmations)")
 	flag.BoolVar(&UseSeed, "seed", true, "seed peers")
 	flag.BoolVar(&SHH, "shh", true, "whisper protocol (on)")
+	flag.BoolVar(&Dial, "dial", true, "dial out connections (on)")
 	flag.BoolVar(&GenAddr, "genaddr", false, "create a new priv/pub key")
 	flag.StringVar(&SecretFile, "import", "", "imports the file given (hex or mnemonic formats)")
 	flag.StringVar(&ExportDir, "export", "", "exports the session keyring to files in the directory given")
diff --git a/cmd/ethereum/main.go b/cmd/ethereum/main.go
index 85ed20171b..8b83bbd376 100644
--- a/cmd/ethereum/main.go
+++ b/cmd/ethereum/main.go
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ func main() {
 		PMPGateway: PMPGateway,
 		KeyRing:    KeyRing,
 		Shh:        SHH,
+		Dial:       Dial,
 	})
 
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index 4c24a5b1b5..72149ad2be 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ type Config struct {
 	NATType    string
 	PMPGateway string
 
-	Shh bool
+	Shh  bool
+	Dial bool
 
 	KeyManager *crypto.KeyManager
 }
@@ -150,6 +151,7 @@ func New(config *Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 		Protocols: protocols,
 		Blacklist: eth.blacklist,
 		NAT:       nat,
+		NoDial:    !config.Dial,
 	}
 
 	if len(config.Port) > 0 {
diff --git a/p2p/server.go b/p2p/server.go
index c6bb8c561a..7ba41cb53d 100644
--- a/p2p/server.go
+++ b/p2p/server.go
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ func (srv *Server) Start() (err error) {
 
 	// make all slots available
 	for i := range srv.peers {
+		srvlog.Debugf("add slot %v", i)
 		srv.peerSlots <- i
 	}
 	// note: discLoop is not part of WaitGroup
@@ -260,6 +261,7 @@ func (srv *Server) listenLoop() {
 	for {
 		select {
 		case slot := <-srv.peerSlots:
+			srvlog.Debugf("grabbed slot %v for listening", slot)
 			conn, err := srv.listener.Accept()
 			if err != nil {
 				srv.peerSlots <- slot