diff --git a/templates/boilerplate/config/contracts.js b/templates/boilerplate/config/contracts.js
index 68265c7e..29828c2b 100644
--- a/templates/boilerplate/config/contracts.js
+++ b/templates/boilerplate/config/contracts.js
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ module.exports = {
   // default environment, merges with the settings in default
   // assumed to be the intended environment by `embark run`
   development: {
+    dappConnection: [
+      "ws://localhost:8546",
+      "http://localhost:8545",
+      "$WEB3"  // uses pre existing web3 object if available (e.g in Mist)
+    ]
   },
 
   // merges with the settings in default
diff --git a/templates/demo/config/contracts.js b/templates/demo/config/contracts.js
index 37d689f9..56643605 100644
--- a/templates/demo/config/contracts.js
+++ b/templates/demo/config/contracts.js
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ module.exports = {
   // default environment, merges with the settings in default
   // assumed to be the intended environment by `embark run`
   development: {
+    dappConnection: [
+      "ws://localhost:8546",
+      "http://localhost:8545",
+      "$WEB3"  // uses pre existing web3 object if available (e.g in Mist)
+    ]
   },
 
   // merges with the settings in default
diff --git a/templates/simple/contracts.js b/templates/simple/contracts.js
index 68265c7e..29828c2b 100644
--- a/templates/simple/contracts.js
+++ b/templates/simple/contracts.js
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ module.exports = {
   // default environment, merges with the settings in default
   // assumed to be the intended environment by `embark run`
   development: {
+    dappConnection: [
+      "ws://localhost:8546",
+      "http://localhost:8545",
+      "$WEB3"  // uses pre existing web3 object if available (e.g in Mist)
+    ]
   },
 
   // merges with the settings in default