diff --git a/beacon_chain/libp2p_backend.nim b/beacon_chain/libp2p_backend.nim
index 87e384a2a..18a54d7da 100644
--- a/beacon_chain/libp2p_backend.nim
+++ b/beacon_chain/libp2p_backend.nim
@@ -188,7 +188,10 @@ proc dialPeer*(node: Eth2Node, peerInfo: PeerInfo) {.async.} =
   discard await node.switch.dial(peerInfo)
   var peer = node.getPeer(peerInfo)
   peer.wasDialed = true
+  debug "Initializing connection"
   await initializeConnection(peer)
+  debug "Subscribing to pubsub"
+  await peer.network.switch.subscribeToPeer(peer.info)
   inc libp2p_successful_dials
   debug "Network handshakes completed"
 
@@ -201,6 +204,7 @@ proc runDiscoveryLoop*(node: Eth2Node) {.async.} =
     if currentPeerCount < node.wantedPeers:
       try:
         let discoveredPeers = await node.discovery.lookupRandom()
+        debug "Discovered peers", peer = $discoveredPeers
         for peer in discoveredPeers:
           debug "Discovered peer", peer = $peer
           try:
diff --git a/beacon_chain/sync_protocol.nim b/beacon_chain/sync_protocol.nim
index f94fbaaea..48e5f1bf2 100644
--- a/beacon_chain/sync_protocol.nim
+++ b/beacon_chain/sync_protocol.nim
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ proc handleInitialStatus(peer: Peer,
     # will allow us to implement the subscription earlier.
     # The root of the problem is that both sides must call `subscribeToPeer`
     # before any GossipSub traffic will flow between them.
-    await peer.network.switch.subscribeToPeer(peer.info)
+    discard
 
   if theirStatus.forkVersion != state.forkVersion:
     notice "Irrelevant peer",