diff --git a/radicle-node/src/service.rs b/radicle-node/src/service.rs
index 63605ea7..a25b25af 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/service.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/service.rs
@@ -428,6 +428,8 @@ where
                 .repo_policies()?
                 .filter_map(|t| (t.policy == tracking::Policy::Track).then_some(t.id)),
         );
+        // Try to establish some connections.
+        self.maintain_connections();
         // Start periodic tasks.
         self.outbox.wakeup(IDLE_INTERVAL);
 
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/tests.rs b/radicle-node/src/tests.rs
index 74ad010b..f0acc051 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/tests.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/tests.rs
@@ -1015,7 +1015,6 @@ fn test_maintain_connections() {
     ];
 
     let mut alice = Peer::new("alice", [7, 7, 7, 7]);
-    alice.import_addresses(&unconnected);
 
     for peer in connected.iter() {
         alice.connect_to(peer);
@@ -1023,8 +1022,10 @@ fn test_maintain_connections() {
     assert_eq!(
         connected.len(),
         alice.sessions().len(),
-        "alice should be connected to all peers"
+        "alice should be connected to the first set of peers"
     );
+    // We now import the other addresses.
+    alice.import_addresses(&unconnected);
 
     // A transient error such as this will cause Alice to attempt a reconnection.
     let error = Arc::new(io::Error::from(io::ErrorKind::ConnectionReset));