diff --git a/radicle-cli/examples/rad-node.md b/radicle-cli/examples/rad-node.md
index a57265c3..5934f70e 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/examples/rad-node.md
+++ b/radicle-cli/examples/rad-node.md
@@ -18,15 +18,6 @@ $ rad node status
 ✓ Node is running.
 ```
 
-The node also allows us to connect with other nodes in the
-network. For example, let's connect to a known peer using their Node
-ID and their network address:
-
-```
-$ rad node connect z6Mkt67GdsW7715MEfRuP4pSZxJRJh6kj6Y48WRqVv4N1tRk@0.0.0.0:3679
-✓ Connecting to z6Mkt67…v4N1tRk@0.0.0.0:3679...
-```
-
 The node also allows us to query data that it has access too such as
 the tracking relationships and the routing table. Before we explore
 those commands we'll first track a peer so that we have something to
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/node.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/node.rs
index 42827a4f..df984a1f 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/node.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/node.rs
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ pub struct Options {
 pub enum Operation {
     Connect {
         addr: PeerAddr<NodeId, Address>,
+        timeout: time::Duration,
     },
     Events {
         timeout: time::Duration,
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ pub enum TrackingMode {
     Nodes,
 }
 
-#[derive(Default)]
+#[derive(Default, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum OperationName {
     Connect,
     Events,
@@ -159,7 +160,9 @@ impl Args for Options {
                     nid = term::args::nid(&val).ok();
                 }
                 Long("json") if matches!(op, Some(OperationName::Routing)) => json = true,
-                Long("timeout") if matches!(op, Some(OperationName::Events)) => {
+                Long("timeout")
+                    if op == Some(OperationName::Events) || op == Some(OperationName::Connect) =>
+                {
                     let val = parser.value()?;
                     timeout = term::args::seconds(&val)?;
                 }
@@ -191,6 +194,7 @@ impl Args for Options {
                 addr: addr.ok_or_else(|| {
                     anyhow!("an address of the form `<nid>@<host>:<port>` must be provided")
                 })?,
+                timeout,
             },
             OperationName::Events => Operation::Events { timeout, count },
             OperationName::Routing => Operation::Routing { rid, nid, json },
@@ -214,7 +218,9 @@ pub fn run(options: Options, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let mut node = Node::new(profile.socket());
 
     match options.op {
-        Operation::Connect { addr } => control::connect(&mut node, addr.id, addr.addr)?,
+        Operation::Connect { addr, timeout } => {
+            control::connect(&mut node, addr.id, addr.addr, timeout)?
+        }
         Operation::Events { timeout, count } => {
             events::run(node, count, timeout)?;
         }
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/node/control.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/node/control.rs
index 3abdb2d8..62d4103f 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/node/control.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/node/control.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use anyhow::Context as _;
 use localtime::LocalTime;
 
 use radicle::node;
-use radicle::node::{Address, Handle as _, NodeId};
+use radicle::node::{Address, ConnectResult, Handle as _, NodeId};
 use radicle::Node;
 use radicle::{profile, Profile};
 
@@ -122,20 +122,27 @@ pub fn logs(lines: usize, follow: Option<time::Duration>, profile: &Profile) ->
     Ok(())
 }
 
-pub fn connect(node: &mut Node, nid: NodeId, addr: Address) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+pub fn connect(
+    node: &mut Node,
+    nid: NodeId,
+    addr: Address,
+    timeout: time::Duration,
+) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let spinner = term::spinner(format!(
         "Connecting to {}@{addr}...",
         term::format::node(&nid)
     ));
-    if let Err(err) = node.connect(nid, addr.clone(), node::ConnectOptions { persistent: true }) {
-        spinner.error(format!(
-            "Failed to connect to {}@{}: {}",
-            term::format::node(&nid),
-            term::format::secondary(addr),
-            err,
-        ))
-    } else {
-        spinner.finish()
+    match node.connect(
+        nid,
+        addr,
+        node::ConnectOptions {
+            persistent: true,
+            timeout,
+        },
+    ) {
+        Ok(ConnectResult::Connected) => spinner.finish(),
+        Ok(ConnectResult::Disconnected { reason }) => spinner.error(reason),
+        Err(err) => spinner.error(err.to_string()),
     }
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/radicle-cli/tests/commands.rs b/radicle-cli/tests/commands.rs
index 501bf07c..f2350ea0 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/tests/commands.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/tests/commands.rs
@@ -239,16 +239,40 @@ fn rad_id_rebase() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn rad_node() {
+fn rad_node_connect() {
     logger::init(log::Level::Debug);
 
     let mut environment = Environment::new();
     let alice = environment.node(Config::test(Alias::new("alice")));
     let bob = environment.node(Config::test(Alias::new("bob")));
     let working = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
-
     let alice = alice.spawn();
-    let _bob = bob.spawn();
+    let bob = bob.spawn();
+
+    alice
+        .rad(
+            "node",
+            &["connect", format!("{}@{}", bob.id, bob.addr).as_str()],
+            working.path(),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+    let sessions = alice.handle.sessions().unwrap();
+    let session = sessions.first().unwrap();
+
+    assert_eq!(session.nid, bob.id);
+    assert_eq!(session.addr, bob.addr.into());
+    assert!(session.state.is_connected());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn rad_node() {
+    logger::init(log::Level::Debug);
+
+    let mut environment = Environment::new();
+    let alice = environment.node(Config::test(Alias::new("alice")));
+    let working = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+    let alice = alice.spawn();
 
     fixtures::repository(working.path().join("alice"));
 
@@ -681,7 +705,7 @@ fn test_cob_replication() {
     // Wait for Alice to fetch the clone refs.
     events
         .wait(
-            |e| matches!(e, Event::RefsFetched { .. }),
+            |e| matches!(e, Event::RefsFetched { .. }).then_some(()),
             time::Duration::from_secs(6),
         )
         .unwrap();
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/control.rs b/radicle-node/src/control.rs
index 82e00d2d..137a3b8a 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/control.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/control.rs
@@ -94,10 +94,12 @@ where
     match cmd {
         Command::Connect { addr, opts } => {
             let (nid, addr) = addr.into();
-            if let Err(e) = handle.connect(nid, addr, opts) {
-                return Err(CommandError::Runtime(e));
-            } else {
-                CommandResult::Okay { updated: true }.to_writer(writer)?;
+            match handle.connect(nid, addr, opts) {
+                Err(e) => return Err(CommandError::Runtime(e)),
+                Ok(result) => {
+                    json::to_writer(&mut writer, &result)?;
+                    writer.write_all(b"\n")?;
+                }
             }
         }
         Command::Fetch { rid, nid } => {
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/runtime/handle.rs b/radicle-node/src/runtime/handle.rs
index ad94c037..ae4707fe 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/runtime/handle.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/runtime/handle.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::{fmt, io, time};
 
 use crossbeam_channel as chan;
-use radicle::node::{ConnectOptions, Seeds};
+use radicle::node::{ConnectOptions, ConnectResult, Seeds};
 use reactor::poller::popol::PopolWaker;
 use thiserror::Error;
 
@@ -148,10 +148,33 @@ impl radicle::node::Handle for Handle {
         node: NodeId,
         addr: radicle::node::Address,
         opts: ConnectOptions,
-    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    ) -> Result<ConnectResult, Error> {
+        let events = self.events();
+        let timeout = opts.timeout;
+        let sessions = self.sessions()?;
+        let session = sessions.iter().find(|s| s.nid == node);
+
+        if let Some(s) = session {
+            if s.state.is_connected() {
+                return Ok(ConnectResult::Connected);
+            }
+        }
         self.command(service::Command::Connect(node, addr, opts))?;
 
-        Ok(())
+        events
+            .wait(
+                |e| match e {
+                    Event::PeerConnected { nid } if nid == &node => Some(ConnectResult::Connected),
+                    Event::PeerDisconnected { nid, reason } if nid == &node => {
+                        Some(ConnectResult::Disconnected {
+                            reason: reason.clone(),
+                        })
+                    }
+                    _ => None,
+                },
+                timeout,
+            )
+            .map_err(Error::from)
     }
 
     fn seeds(&mut self, id: Id) -> Result<Seeds, Self::Error> {
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/service.rs b/radicle-node/src/service.rs
index 87f7cfba..6aafcc5e 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/service.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/service.rs
@@ -505,7 +505,9 @@ where
                 if opts.persistent {
                     self.config.connect.insert((nid, addr.clone()).into());
                 }
-                self.connect(nid, addr);
+                if !self.connect(nid, addr) {
+                    // TODO: Return error to command.
+                }
             }
             Command::Disconnect(nid) => {
                 self.outbox.disconnect(nid, DisconnectReason::Command);
@@ -784,6 +786,10 @@ where
         let since = self.local_time();
 
         debug!(target: "service", "Disconnected from {} ({})", remote, reason);
+        self.emitter.emit(Event::PeerDisconnected {
+            nid: remote,
+            reason: reason.to_string(),
+        });
 
         let Some(session) = self.sessions.get_mut(&remote) else {
             if cfg!(debug_assertions) {
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/service/session.rs b/radicle-node/src/service/session.rs
index 7e6fd73c..92965541 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/service/session.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/service/session.rs
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ impl Session {
     }
 
     pub fn is_connected(&self) -> bool {
-        matches!(self.state, State::Connected { .. })
+        self.state.is_connected()
     }
 
     pub fn is_disconnected(&self) -> bool {
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/test/environment.rs b/radicle-node/src/test/environment.rs
index 5adcb8b8..e24ef74e 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/test/environment.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/test/environment.rs
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ impl<G: Signer + cyphernet::Ecdh> NodeHandle<G> {
 
         self.handle
             .connect(remote.id, remote.addr.into(), ConnectOptions::default())
-            .unwrap();
+            .ok();
 
         local_events
             .iter()
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ impl<G: Signer + cyphernet::Ecdh> NodeHandle<G> {
             }
             events
                 .wait(
-                    |e| matches!(e, Event::SeedDiscovered { .. }),
+                    |e| matches!(e, Event::SeedDiscovered { .. }).then_some(()),
                     time::Duration::from_secs(6),
                 )
                 .unwrap();
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ impl<G: Signer + cyphernet::Ecdh> NodeHandle<G> {
             }
             events
                 .wait(
-                    |e| matches!(e, Event::RefsFetched { .. }),
+                    |e| matches!(e, Event::RefsFetched { .. }).then_some(()),
                     time::Duration::from_secs(6),
                 )
                 .unwrap();
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/test/handle.rs b/radicle-node/src/test/handle.rs
index 69ee0b10..ff57fc4e 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/test/handle.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/test/handle.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use std::{io, time};
 
 use crate::identity::Id;
-use crate::node::{Alias, ConnectOptions, Event, FetchResult, Seeds};
+use crate::node::{Alias, ConnectOptions, ConnectResult, Event, FetchResult, Seeds};
 use crate::runtime::HandleError;
 use crate::service::tracking;
 use crate::service::NodeId;
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ impl radicle::node::Handle for Handle {
         _node: NodeId,
         _addr: radicle::node::Address,
         _opts: ConnectOptions,
-    ) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+    ) -> Result<ConnectResult, Self::Error> {
         unimplemented!();
     }
 
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/tests.rs b/radicle-node/src/tests.rs
index f0acc051..9bcd0d70 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/tests.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/tests.rs
@@ -1230,9 +1230,9 @@ fn test_refs_synced_event() {
                     assert_eq!(remote, &bob.id);
                     assert_eq!(rid, &acme);
 
-                    true
+                    Some(())
                 } else {
-                    false
+                    None
                 }
             },
             time::Duration::from_secs(3),
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/tests/e2e.rs b/radicle-node/src/tests/e2e.rs
index 4df6ba5b..c4798b06 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/tests/e2e.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/tests/e2e.rs
@@ -603,7 +603,10 @@ fn test_large_fetch() {
 
     bob_events
         .wait(
-            |e| matches!(e, service::Event::RefsFetched { updated, .. } if !updated.is_empty()),
+            |e| {
+                matches!(e, service::Event::RefsFetched { updated, .. } if !updated.is_empty())
+                    .then_some(())
+            },
             time::Duration::from_secs(9 * scale as u64),
         )
         .unwrap();
diff --git a/radicle/src/node.rs b/radicle/src/node.rs
index 3757f91f..62d7abff 100644
--- a/radicle/src/node.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/node.rs
@@ -92,6 +92,13 @@ pub enum State {
     },
 }
 
+impl State {
+    /// Check if this is a connected state.
+    pub fn is_connected(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, Self::Connected { .. })
+    }
+}
+
 impl fmt::Display for State {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
         match self {
@@ -200,6 +207,8 @@ impl FromStr for Alias {
 pub struct ConnectOptions {
     /// Establish a persistent connection.
     pub persistent: bool,
+    /// How long to wait for the connection to be established.
+    pub timeout: time::Duration,
 }
 
 /// Result of a command, on the node control socket.
@@ -597,6 +606,13 @@ pub enum CallError {
     },
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase", tag = "status")]
+pub enum ConnectResult {
+    Connected,
+    Disconnected { reason: String },
+}
+
 /// A handle to send commands to the node or request information.
 pub trait Handle: Clone + Sync + Send {
     /// The peer sessions type.
@@ -614,7 +630,7 @@ pub trait Handle: Clone + Sync + Send {
         node: NodeId,
         addr: Address,
         opts: ConnectOptions,
-    ) -> Result<(), Self::Error>;
+    ) -> Result<ConnectResult, Self::Error>;
     /// Lookup the seeds of a given repository in the routing table.
     fn seeds(&mut self, id: Id) -> Result<Seeds, Self::Error>;
     /// Fetch a repository from the network.
@@ -760,18 +776,25 @@ impl Handle for Node {
         matches!(result, CommandResult::Okay { .. })
     }
 
-    fn connect(&mut self, nid: NodeId, addr: Address, opts: ConnectOptions) -> Result<(), Error> {
-        self.call::<CommandResult>(
-            Command::Connect {
-                addr: (nid, addr).into(),
-                opts,
-            },
-            DEFAULT_TIMEOUT,
-        )?
-        .next()
-        .ok_or(Error::EmptyResponse)??;
+    fn connect(
+        &mut self,
+        nid: NodeId,
+        addr: Address,
+        opts: ConnectOptions,
+    ) -> Result<ConnectResult, Error> {
+        let timeout = opts.timeout;
+        let result = self
+            .call::<ConnectResult>(
+                Command::Connect {
+                    addr: (nid, addr).into(),
+                    opts,
+                },
+                timeout,
+            )?
+            .next()
+            .ok_or(Error::EmptyResponse)??;
 
-        Ok(())
+        Ok(result)
     }
 
     fn seeds(&mut self, rid: Id) -> Result<Seeds, Error> {
diff --git a/radicle/src/node/events.rs b/radicle/src/node/events.rs
index e8c48095..b75853ef 100644
--- a/radicle/src/node/events.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/node/events.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ pub enum Event {
     PeerConnected {
         nid: NodeId,
     },
+    PeerDisconnected {
+        nid: NodeId,
+        reason: String,
+    },
 }
 
 /// Events feed.
@@ -61,13 +65,9 @@ impl Deref for Events {
 impl Events {
     /// Listen for events, and wait for the given predicate to return something,
     /// or timeout if the specified amount of time has elapsed.
-    pub fn wait<F>(
-        &self,
-        mut f: F,
-        timeout: time::Duration,
-    ) -> Result<Event, chan::RecvTimeoutError>
+    pub fn wait<F, T>(&self, mut f: F, timeout: time::Duration) -> Result<T, chan::RecvTimeoutError>
     where
-        F: FnMut(&Event) -> bool,
+        F: FnMut(&Event) -> Option<T>,
     {
         let start = time::Instant::now();
 
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ impl Events {
             if let Some(timeout) = timeout.checked_sub(start.elapsed()) {
                 match self.recv_timeout(timeout) {
                     Ok(event) => {
-                        if f(&event) {
-                            return Ok(event);
+                        if let Some(output) = f(&event) {
+                            return Ok(output);
                         }
                     }
                     Err(err @ chan::RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected) => {