diff --git a/include/libp2p/secio/secio.h b/include/libp2p/secio/secio.h
index 5c3f3e6..73b0c7b 100644
--- a/include/libp2p/secio/secio.h
+++ b/include/libp2p/secio/secio.h
@@ -22,3 +22,13 @@ struct Libp2pProtocolHandler* libp2p_secio_build_protocol_handler(struct RsaPriv
  * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
  */
 int libp2p_secio_handshake(struct SessionContext* session, struct RsaPrivateKey* private_key, struct Peerstore* peerstore);
+
+/***
+ * Initiates a secio handshake. Use this method when you want to initiate a secio
+ * session. This should not be used to respond to incoming secio requests
+ * @param session_context the session context
+ * @param private_key the RSA private key to use
+ * @param peer_store the peer store
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
+ */
+int libp2p_secio_initiate_handshake(struct SessionContext* session_context, struct RsaPrivateKey* private_key, struct Peerstore* peer_store);
diff --git a/peer/peer.c b/peer/peer.c
index 09cc4b9..b950a0a 100644
--- a/peer/peer.c
+++ b/peer/peer.c
@@ -117,7 +117,10 @@ int libp2p_peer_connect(struct RsaPrivateKey* privateKey, struct Libp2pPeer* pee
 				peer->sessionContext->default_stream = peer->sessionContext->insecure_stream;
 				peer->connection_type = CONNECTION_TYPE_CONNECTED;
 			}
-			libp2p_secio_handshake(peer->sessionContext, privateKey, peerstore);
+			if (libp2p_secio_initiate_handshake(peer->sessionContext, privateKey, peerstore) <= 0) {
+				free(ip);
+				return 0;
+			}
 			free(ip);
 		} // is IP
 		now = time(NULL);
diff --git a/secio/secio.c b/secio/secio.c
index c095337..adf4942 100644
--- a/secio/secio.c
+++ b/secio/secio.c
@@ -58,6 +58,24 @@ int libp2p_secio_shutdown(void* context) {
 	return 1;
 }
 
+/***
+ * Initiates a secio handshake. Use this method when you want to initiate a secio
+ * session. This should not be used to respond to incoming secio requests
+ * @param session_context the session context
+ * @param private_key the RSA private key to use
+ * @param peer_store the peer store
+ * @returns true(1) on success, false(0) otherwise
+ */
+int libp2p_secio_initiate_handshake(struct SessionContext* session_context, struct RsaPrivateKey* private_key, struct Peerstore* peer_store) {
+	// send the protocol id first
+	const unsigned char* protocol = (unsigned char*)"/secio/1.0.0\n";
+	int protocol_len = strlen((char*)protocol);
+	if (!session_context->default_stream->write(session_context, protocol, protocol_len))
+		return 0;
+	return libp2p_secio_handshake(session_context, private_key, peer_store);
+
+}
+
 struct Libp2pProtocolHandler* libp2p_secio_build_protocol_handler(struct RsaPrivateKey* private_key, struct Peerstore* peer_store) {
 	struct Libp2pProtocolHandler* handler = (struct Libp2pProtocolHandler*) malloc(sizeof(struct Libp2pProtocolHandler));
 	if (handler != NULL) {
@@ -851,12 +869,6 @@ int libp2p_secio_handshake(struct SessionContext* local_session, struct RsaPriva
 	if (libp2p_secio_propose_protobuf_encode(propose_out, propose_out_bytes, propose_out_size, &propose_out_size) == 0)
 		goto exit;
 
-	// send the protocol id first
-	const unsigned char* protocol = (unsigned char*)"/secio/1.0.0\n";
-	int protocol_len = strlen((char*)protocol);
-	if (!local_session->default_stream->write(local_session, protocol, protocol_len))
-		goto exit;
-
 	// now send the Propose struct
 	bytes_written = libp2p_secio_unencrypted_write(local_session, propose_out_bytes, propose_out_size);
 	if (bytes_written != propose_out_size) {