diff --git a/degesch.c b/degesch.c
index 6a7e0db..2118a4d 100644
--- a/degesch.c
+++ b/degesch.c
@@ -1983,6 +1983,10 @@ irc_remove_user_from_channel (struct user *user, struct channel *channel)
 
 // --- Supporting code ---------------------------------------------------------
 
+static bool irc_connect (struct server *s, bool *should_retry, struct error **);
+static void irc_cancel_timers (struct server *s);
+static void on_irc_reconnect_timeout (void *user_data);
+
 static char *
 irc_cut_nickname (const char *prefix)
 {
@@ -4236,6 +4240,22 @@ handle_command_part (struct app_context *ctx, char *arguments)
 	return true;
 }
 
+static bool
+handle_command_connect (struct app_context *ctx, char *arguments)
+{
+	// TODO: multiserver
+	struct server *s = &ctx->server;
+	if (s->irc_fd != -1)
+	{
+		buffer_send_error (ctx, s->buffer, "Already connected");
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	irc_cancel_timers (s);
+	on_irc_reconnect_timeout (s);
+	return true;
+}
+
 static bool
 handle_command_list (struct app_context *ctx, char *arguments)
 {
@@ -4283,31 +4303,31 @@ static struct command_handler
 }
 g_command_handlers[] =
 {
-	{ "help",    handle_command_help,   "Show help",
+	{ "help",    handle_command_help,    "Show help",
 	  "[<command> | <option>]" },
-	{ "quit",    handle_command_quit,   "Quit the program",
+	{ "quit",    handle_command_quit,    "Quit the program",
 	  "[<message>]" },
-	{ "buffer",  handle_command_buffer, "Manage buffers",
+	{ "buffer",  handle_command_buffer,  "Manage buffers",
 	  "list | clear | move | { close [<number> | <name>] } | <number>" },
-	{ "set",     handle_command_set,    "Manage configuration",
+	{ "set",     handle_command_set,     "Manage configuration",
 	  "[<option>]" },
-	{ "save",    handle_command_save,   "Save configuration",
+	{ "save",    handle_command_save,    "Save configuration",
 	  "" },
 
-	{ "msg",     handle_command_msg,    "Send message to a nick or channel",
+	{ "msg",     handle_command_msg,     "Send message to a nick or channel",
 	  "<target> <message>" },
-	{ "query",   handle_command_query,  "Send a private message to a nick",
+	{ "query",   handle_command_query,   "Send a private message to a nick",
 	  "<nick> <message>" },
-	{ "notice",  handle_command_notice, "Send notice to a nick or channel",
+	{ "notice",  handle_command_notice,  "Send notice to a nick or channel",
 	  "<target> <message>" },
-	{ "ctcp",    handle_command_ctcp,   "Send a CTCP query",
+	{ "ctcp",    handle_command_ctcp,    "Send a CTCP query",
 	  "<target> <tag>" },
-	{ "me",      handle_command_me,     "Send a CTCP action",
+	{ "me",      handle_command_me,      "Send a CTCP action",
 	  "<message>" },
 
-	{ "join",    handle_command_join,   "Join channels",
+	{ "join",    handle_command_join,    "Join channels",
 	  "[<channel>[,<channel>...]]" },
-	{ "part",    handle_command_part,   "Leave channels",
+	{ "part",    handle_command_part,    "Leave channels",
 	  "[<channel>[,<channel>...]]" },
 #if 0
 	{ "cycle",   NULL, "", "" },
@@ -4320,7 +4340,9 @@ g_command_handlers[] =
 	{ "invite",  NULL, "", "" },
 #endif
 
-	{ "list",    handle_command_list,   "List channels and their topic",
+	{ "connect", handle_command_connect, "Connect to the server",
+	  "" },
+	{ "list",    handle_command_list,    "List channels and their topic",
 	  "[<channel>[,<channel>...]] [server]" },
 #if 0
 	{ "names",   NULL, "", "" },
@@ -4330,9 +4352,9 @@ g_command_handlers[] =
 	{ "motd",    NULL, "", "" },
 	{ "away",    NULL, "", "" },
 #endif
-	{ "nick",    handle_command_nick,   "Change current nick",
+	{ "nick",    handle_command_nick,    "Change current nick",
 	  "<nickname>" },
-	{ "quote",   handle_command_quote,  "Send a raw command to the server",
+	{ "quote",   handle_command_quote,   "Send a raw command to the server",
 	  "<command>" },
 };
 
@@ -4590,9 +4612,6 @@ start:
 	return IRC_READ_ERROR;
 }
 
-static bool irc_connect (struct server *s, bool *should_retry, struct error **);
-static void irc_queue_reconnect (struct server *s);
-
 static void
 irc_cancel_timers (struct server *s)
 {
@@ -4601,6 +4620,16 @@ irc_cancel_timers (struct server *s)
 	poller_timer_reset (&s->reconnect_tmr);
 }
 
+static void
+irc_queue_reconnect (struct server *s)
+{
+	// TODO: exponentional backoff
+	hard_assert (s->irc_fd == -1);
+	buffer_send_status (s->ctx, s->buffer,
+		"Trying to reconnect in %ld seconds...", s->ctx->reconnect_delay);
+	poller_timer_set (&s->reconnect_tmr, s->ctx->reconnect_delay * 1000);
+}
+
 static void
 on_irc_reconnect_timeout (void *user_data)
 {
@@ -4618,16 +4647,6 @@ on_irc_reconnect_timeout (void *user_data)
 		irc_queue_reconnect (s);
 }
 
-static void
-irc_queue_reconnect (struct server *s)
-{
-	// TODO: exponentional backoff
-	hard_assert (s->irc_fd == -1);
-	buffer_send_status (s->ctx, s->buffer,
-		"Trying to reconnect in %ld seconds...", s->ctx->reconnect_delay);
-	poller_timer_set (&s->reconnect_tmr, s->ctx->reconnect_delay * 1000);
-}
-
 static void
 on_irc_disconnected (struct server *s)
 {