diff --git a/agent/agent_endpoint_test.go b/agent/agent_endpoint_test.go
index 62d095fbae..adef1b2373 100644
--- a/agent/agent_endpoint_test.go
+++ b/agent/agent_endpoint_test.go
@@ -1519,6 +1519,40 @@ func TestAgent_RegisterService_UnmanagedConnectProxyInvalid(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(ok)
 }
 
+// Tests agent registration of a service that is connect native.
+func TestAgent_RegisterService_ConnectNative(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	assert := assert.New(t)
+	a := NewTestAgent(t.Name(), "")
+	defer a.Shutdown()
+
+	// Register a proxy. Note that the destination doesn't exist here on
+	// this agent or in the catalog at all. This is intended and part
+	// of the design.
+	args := &structs.ServiceDefinition{
+		Name: "web",
+		Port: 8000,
+		Check: structs.CheckType{
+			TTL: 15 * time.Second,
+		},
+		Connect: &structs.ServiceDefinitionConnect{
+			Native: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	req, _ := http.NewRequest("PUT", "/v1/agent/service/register", jsonReader(args))
+	resp := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	obj, err := a.srv.AgentRegisterService(resp, req)
+	assert.Nil(err)
+	assert.Nil(obj)
+
+	// Ensure the service
+	svc, ok := a.State.Services()["web"]
+	assert.True(ok, "has service")
+	assert.True(svc.ConnectNative)
+}
+
 func TestAgent_DeregisterService(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	a := NewTestAgent(t.Name(), "")
diff --git a/agent/structs/service_definition.go b/agent/structs/service_definition.go
index 5060156497..26d1585299 100644
--- a/agent/structs/service_definition.go
+++ b/agent/structs/service_definition.go
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ func (s *ServiceDefinition) NodeService() *NodeService {
 		EnableTagOverride: s.EnableTagOverride,
 		ProxyDestination:  s.ProxyDestination,
 	}
+	if s.Connect != nil {
+		ns.ConnectNative = s.Connect.Native
+	}
 	if ns.ID == "" && ns.Service != "" {
 		ns.ID = ns.Service
 	}
@@ -83,10 +86,17 @@ func (s *ServiceDefinition) Validate() error {
 	var result error
 
 	if s.Kind == ServiceKindTypical {
-		if s.Connect != nil && s.Connect.Proxy != nil {
-			if s.Port == 0 {
-				result = multierror.Append(result, fmt.Errorf(
-					"Services with a Connect managed proxy must have a port set"))
+		if s.Connect != nil {
+			if s.Connect.Proxy != nil {
+				if s.Connect.Native {
+					result = multierror.Append(result, fmt.Errorf(
+						"Services that are Connect native may not have a proxy configuration"))
+				}
+
+				if s.Port == 0 {
+					result = multierror.Append(result, fmt.Errorf(
+						"Services with a Connect managed proxy must have a port set"))
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -120,7 +130,9 @@ func (s *ServiceDefinition) CheckTypes() (checks CheckTypes, err error) {
 // Note this is duplicated in config.ServiceConnect and needs to be kept in
 // sync.
 type ServiceDefinitionConnect struct {
-	// TODO(banks) add way to specify that the app is connect-native
+	// Native is true when this service can natively understand Connect.
+	Native bool
+
 	// Proxy configures a connect proxy instance for the service
 	Proxy *ServiceDefinitionConnectProxy
 }
diff --git a/agent/structs/service_definition_test.go b/agent/structs/service_definition_test.go
index c73cff2176..54c711db70 100644
--- a/agent/structs/service_definition_test.go
+++ b/agent/structs/service_definition_test.go
@@ -89,6 +89,18 @@ func TestServiceDefinitionValidate(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			"must have a port",
 		},
+
+		{
+			"managed proxy with native set",
+			func(x *ServiceDefinition) {
+				x.Port = 8080
+				x.Connect = &ServiceDefinitionConnect{
+					Native: true,
+					Proxy:  &ServiceDefinitionConnectProxy{},
+				}
+			},
+			"may not have a proxy",
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range cases {