diff --git a/net/swarm2/simul_test.go b/net/swarm2/simul_test.go
index ed5e58618..bf6f55aae 100644
--- a/net/swarm2/simul_test.go
+++ b/net/swarm2/simul_test.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestSimultOpen(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Skip("skipping for another test")
+	// t.Skip("skipping for another test")
 
 	addrs := []string{
 		"/ip4/127.0.0.1/tcp/1244",
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ func TestSimultOpen(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSimultOpenMany(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Skip("very very slow")
+	// t.Skip("very very slow")
 
-	many := 500
+	many := 10
 	addrs := []string{}
 	for i := 2200; i < (2200 + many); i++ {
 		s := fmt.Sprintf("/ip4/127.0.0.1/tcp/%d", i)
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func TestSimultOpenFewStress(t *testing.T) {
 	if testing.Short() {
 		t.SkipNow()
 	}
-	t.Skip("skipping for another test")
+	// t.Skip("skipping for another test")
 
 	num := 10
 	// num := 100
diff --git a/net/swarm2/swarm.go b/net/swarm2/swarm.go
index 28ec36c90..4fa6399ea 100644
--- a/net/swarm2/swarm.go
+++ b/net/swarm2/swarm.go
@@ -70,6 +70,14 @@ func (s *Swarm) SetStreamHandler(handler StreamHandler) {
 
 // NewStreamWithPeer creates a new stream on any available connection to p
 func (s *Swarm) NewStreamWithPeer(p peer.Peer) (*Stream, error) {
+
+	// if we have no connections, try connecting.
+	if len(s.ConnectionsToPeer(p)) == 0 {
+		if _, err := s.Dial(p); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
 	st, err := s.swarm.NewStreamWithGroup(p)
 	return wrapStream(st), err
 }
diff --git a/net/swarm2/swarm_conn.go b/net/swarm2/swarm_conn.go
index 3017cf54d..f0502a7de 100644
--- a/net/swarm2/swarm_conn.go
+++ b/net/swarm2/swarm_conn.go
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ import (
 // a Conn is a simple wrapper around a ps.Conn that also exposes
 // some of the methods from the underlying conn.Conn.
 // There's **five** "layers" to each connection:
-// - 0. the net.Conn - underlying net.Conn (TCP/UDP/UTP/etc)
-// - 1. the manet.Conn - provides multiaddr friendly Conn
-// - 2. the conn.Conn - provides Peer friendly Conn (inc Secure channel)
-// - 3. the peerstream.Conn - provides peerstream / spdysptream happiness
-// - 4. the Conn - abstracts everyting out, exposing only key parts of underlying layers
+//  * 0. the net.Conn - underlying net.Conn (TCP/UDP/UTP/etc)
+//  * 1. the manet.Conn - provides multiaddr friendly Conn
+//  * 2. the conn.Conn - provides Peer friendly Conn (inc Secure channel)
+//  * 3. the peerstream.Conn - provides peerstream / spdysptream happiness
+//  * 4. the Conn - abstracts everyting out, exposing only key parts of underlying layers
 // (I know, this is kinda crazy. it's more historical than a good design. though the
 // layers do build up pieces of functionality. and they're all just io.RW :) )
 type Conn ps.Conn
diff --git a/net/swarm2/swarm_listen.go b/net/swarm2/swarm_listen.go
index 247725903..7ba3a01c3 100644
--- a/net/swarm2/swarm_listen.go
+++ b/net/swarm2/swarm_listen.go
@@ -18,12 +18,15 @@ func (s *Swarm) listen(addrs []ma.Multiaddr) error {
 	for i, addr := range addrs {
 		err := s.setupListener(addr)
 		if err != nil {
+			if retErr.Errors == nil {
+				retErr.Errors = make([]error, len(addrs))
+			}
 			retErr.Errors[i] = err
 			log.Errorf("Failed to listen on: %s - %s", addr, err)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if len(retErr.Errors) > 0 {
+	if retErr.Errors != nil {
 		return retErr
 	}
 	return nil