diff --git a/libp2p/connmanager.nim b/libp2p/connmanager.nim
index e411d40..3c88d2d 100644
--- a/libp2p/connmanager.nim
+++ b/libp2p/connmanager.nim
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ proc getIncomingSlot*(c: ConnManager): Future[ConnectionSlot] {.async.} =
   await c.inSema.acquire()
   return ConnectionSlot(connManager: c, direction: In)
 
-proc getOutgoingSlot*(c: ConnManager, forceDial = false): Future[ConnectionSlot] {.async.} =
+proc getOutgoingSlot*(c: ConnManager, forceDial = false): ConnectionSlot {.raises: [Defect, TooManyConnectionsError].} =
   if forceDial:
     c.outSema.forceAcquire()
   elif not c.outSema.tryAcquire():
diff --git a/libp2p/dialer.nim b/libp2p/dialer.nim
index 4e39733..4f7c035 100644
--- a/libp2p/dialer.nim
+++ b/libp2p/dialer.nim
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ proc internalConnect(
       trace "Reusing existing connection", conn, direction = $conn.dir
       return conn
 
-    let slot = await self.connManager.getOutgoingSlot(forceDial)
+    let slot = self.connManager.getOutgoingSlot(forceDial)
     conn =
       try:
         await self.dialAndUpgrade(peerId, addrs)
diff --git a/tests/testconnmngr.nim b/tests/testconnmngr.nim
index dda2e3d..9a59e61 100644
--- a/tests/testconnmngr.nim
+++ b/tests/testconnmngr.nim
@@ -259,11 +259,11 @@ suite "Connection Manager":
     let connMngr = ConnManager.new(maxConnections = 3)
 
     for i in 0..<3:
-      check await connMngr.getOutgoingSlot().withTimeout(10.millis)
+      discard connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
 
     # should throw adding a connection over the limit
     expect TooManyConnectionsError:
-      discard await connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
+      discard connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
 
     await connMngr.close()
 
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ suite "Connection Manager":
     let connMngr = ConnManager.new(maxConnections = 3)
 
     for i in 0..<3:
-      check await connMngr.getOutgoingSlot().withTimeout(10.millis)
+      discard connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
 
     # should timeout adding a connection over the limit
     check not(await connMngr.getIncomingSlot().withTimeout(10.millis))
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ suite "Connection Manager":
 
     # should throw adding a connection over the limit
     expect TooManyConnectionsError:
-      discard await connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
+      discard connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
 
     await connMngr.close()
 
@@ -304,11 +304,11 @@ suite "Connection Manager":
     let connMngr = ConnManager.new(maxOut = 3)
 
     for i in 0..<3:
-      check await connMngr.getOutgoingSlot().withTimeout(10.millis)
+      discard connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
 
     # should throw adding a connection over the limit
     expect TooManyConnectionsError:
-      discard await connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
+      discard connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
 
     await connMngr.close()
 
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ suite "Connection Manager":
     let connMngr = ConnManager.new(maxOut = 3)
 
     for i in 0..<3:
-      check await connMngr.getOutgoingSlot().withTimeout(10.millis)
+      discard connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
 
     # should timeout adding a connection over the limit
     check not(await connMngr.getIncomingSlot().withTimeout(10.millis))
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ suite "Connection Manager":
 
     # should throw adding a connection over the limit
     expect TooManyConnectionsError:
-      discard await connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
+      discard connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
 
     await connMngr.close()
 
@@ -341,11 +341,11 @@ suite "Connection Manager":
 
     var conns: seq[Connection]
     for i in 0..<3:
-      check await connMngr.getOutgoingSlot(true).withTimeout(10.millis)
+      discard connMngr.getOutgoingSlot(true)
 
     # should throw adding a connection over the limit
     expect TooManyConnectionsError:
-      discard await connMngr.getOutgoingSlot(false)
+      discard connMngr.getOutgoingSlot(false)
 
     await connMngr.close()
 
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ suite "Connection Manager":
 
     var conns: seq[Connection]
     for i in 0..<3:
-      let slot = await ((connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()).wait(10.millis))
+      let slot = connMngr.getOutgoingSlot()
 
       let conn =
         getConnection(