diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/bitswap.go b/exchange/bitswap/bitswap.go
index bdc17ff96..a883e4b03 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/bitswap.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/bitswap.go
@@ -385,11 +385,6 @@ func (bs *bitswap) ReceiveError(err error) {
 // send strives to ensure that accounting is always performed when a message is
 // sent
 func (bs *bitswap) send(ctx context.Context, p peer.ID, m bsmsg.BitSwapMessage) error {
-	log.Event(ctx, "DialPeer", p)
-	err := bs.network.DialPeer(ctx, p)
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err)
-	}
 	if err := bs.network.SendMessage(ctx, p, m); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err)
 	}
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/network/interface.go b/exchange/bitswap/network/interface.go
index 7c34a352b..18bb1df83 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/network/interface.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/network/interface.go
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@ var ProtocolBitswap protocol.ID = "/ipfs/bitswap"
 // BitSwapNetwork provides network connectivity for BitSwap sessions
 type BitSwapNetwork interface {
 
-	// DialPeer ensures there is a connection to peer.
-	DialPeer(context.Context, peer.ID) error
-
 	// SendMessage sends a BitSwap message to a peer.
 	SendMessage(
 		context.Context,
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/network/ipfs_impl.go b/exchange/bitswap/network/ipfs_impl.go
index 841688162..ea98cc87f 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/network/ipfs_impl.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/network/ipfs_impl.go
@@ -34,10 +34,6 @@ type impl struct {
 	receiver Receiver
 }
 
-func (bsnet *impl) DialPeer(ctx context.Context, p peer.ID) error {
-	return bsnet.host.Connect(ctx, peer.PeerInfo{ID: p})
-}
-
 func (bsnet *impl) SendMessage(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	p peer.ID,
@@ -45,6 +41,12 @@ func (bsnet *impl) SendMessage(
 
 	log := log.Prefix("bitswap net SendMessage to %s", p)
 
+	// ensure we're connected
+	//TODO(jbenet) move this into host.NewStream?
+	if err := bsnet.host.Connect(ctx, peer.PeerInfo{ID: p}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	log.Debug("opening stream")
 	s, err := bsnet.host.NewStream(ProtocolBitswap, p)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -69,6 +71,12 @@ func (bsnet *impl) SendRequest(
 
 	log := log.Prefix("bitswap net SendRequest to %s", p)
 
+	// ensure we're connected
+	//TODO(jbenet) move this into host.NewStream?
+	if err := bsnet.host.Connect(ctx, peer.PeerInfo{ID: p}); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	log.Debug("opening stream")
 	s, err := bsnet.host.NewStream(ProtocolBitswap, p)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/exchange/bitswap/testnet/virtual.go b/exchange/bitswap/testnet/virtual.go
index 9426176a2..639bb00d3 100644
--- a/exchange/bitswap/testnet/virtual.go
+++ b/exchange/bitswap/testnet/virtual.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package bitswap
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
 
 	context "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/code.google.com/p/go.net/context"
 	bsmsg "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/exchange/bitswap/message"
@@ -178,14 +177,6 @@ func (nc *networkClient) Provide(ctx context.Context, k util.Key) error {
 	return nc.routing.Provide(ctx, k)
 }
 
-func (nc *networkClient) DialPeer(ctx context.Context, p peer.ID) error {
-	// no need to do anything because dialing isn't a thing in this test net.
-	if !nc.network.HasPeer(p) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Peer not in network: %s", p)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 func (nc *networkClient) SetDelegate(r bsnet.Receiver) {
 	nc.Receiver = r
 }