diff --git a/libp2p/multistream.nim b/libp2p/multistream.nim
index 57499da9d..914e4ea3e 100644
--- a/libp2p/multistream.nim
+++ b/libp2p/multistream.nim
@@ -40,6 +40,12 @@ proc newMultistream*(): MultistreamSelect =
   new result
   result.codec = MSCodec
 
+template validateSuffix(str: string): untyped =
+    if str.endsWith("\n"):
+      str.removeSuffix("\n")
+    else:
+      raise newException(CatchableError, "MultistreamSelect failed, malformed message")
+
 proc select*(m: MultistreamSelect,
              conn: Connection,
              proto: seq[string]):
@@ -52,17 +58,20 @@ proc select*(m: MultistreamSelect,
     await conn.writeLp((proto[0] & "\n")) # select proto
 
   var s = string.fromBytes((await conn.readLp(1024))) # read ms header
-  s.removeSuffix("\n")
+  validateSuffix(s)
+
   if s != Codec:
-    notice "handshake failed", codec = s.toHex()
-    return ""
+    notice "handshake failed", codec = s
+    raise newException(CatchableError, "MultistreamSelect handshake failed")
+  else:
+    trace "multistream handshake success"
 
   if proto.len() == 0: # no protocols, must be a handshake call
     return Codec
   else:
     s = string.fromBytes(await conn.readLp(1024)) # read the first proto
+    validateSuffix(s)
     trace "reading first requested proto"
-    s.removeSuffix("\n")
     if s == proto[0]:
       trace "successfully selected ", proto = proto[0]
       return proto[0]
@@ -74,7 +83,7 @@ proc select*(m: MultistreamSelect,
         trace "selecting proto", proto = p
         await conn.writeLp((p & "\n")) # select proto
         s = string.fromBytes(await conn.readLp(1024)) # read the first proto
-        s.removeSuffix("\n")
+        validateSuffix(s)
         if s == p:
           trace "selected protocol", protocol = s
           return s
@@ -110,12 +119,18 @@ proc list*(m: MultistreamSelect,
 
   result = list
 
-proc handle*(m: MultistreamSelect, conn: Connection) {.async, gcsafe.} =
+proc handle*(m: MultistreamSelect, conn: Connection, active: bool = false) {.async, gcsafe.} =
   trace "handle: starting multistream handling"
+  var handshaked = active
   try:
     while not conn.closed:
       var ms = string.fromBytes(await conn.readLp(1024))
-      ms.removeSuffix("\n")
+      validateSuffix(ms)
+
+      if not handshaked and ms != Codec:
+        error "expected handshake message", instead=ms
+        raise newException(CatchableError, 
+                           "MultistreamSelect handling failed, invalid first message")
 
       trace "handle: got request for ", ms
       if ms.len() <= 0:
@@ -128,23 +143,27 @@ proc handle*(m: MultistreamSelect, conn: Connection) {.async, gcsafe.} =
         continue
 
       case ms:
-        of "ls":
-          trace "handle: listing protos"
-          var protos = ""
-          for h in m.handlers:
-            protos &= (h.proto & "\n")
-          await conn.writeLp(protos)
-        of Codec:
+      of "ls":
+        trace "handle: listing protos"
+        var protos = ""
+        for h in m.handlers:
+          protos &= (h.proto & "\n")
+        await conn.writeLp(protos)
+      of Codec:
+        if not handshaked:
           await conn.write(m.codec)
+          handshaked = true
         else:
-          for h in m.handlers:
-            if (not isNil(h.match) and h.match(ms)) or ms == h.proto:
-              trace "found handler for", protocol = ms
-              await conn.writeLp((h.proto & "\n"))
-              await h.protocol.handler(conn, ms)
-              return
-          debug "no handlers for ", protocol = ms
-          await conn.write(Na)
+          await conn.write(Na)  
+      else:
+        for h in m.handlers:
+          if (not isNil(h.match) and h.match(ms)) or ms == h.proto:
+            trace "found handler for", protocol = ms
+            await conn.writeLp((h.proto & "\n"))
+            await h.protocol.handler(conn, ms)
+            return
+        debug "no handlers for ", protocol = ms
+        await conn.write(Na)
   except CancelledError as exc:
     await conn.close()
     raise exc
diff --git a/libp2p/switch.nim b/libp2p/switch.nim
index ccd671d98..4e5c27c15 100644
--- a/libp2p/switch.nim
+++ b/libp2p/switch.nim
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ proc upgradeIncoming(s: Switch, conn: Connection) {.async, gcsafe.} =
       for muxer in s.muxers.values:
         ms.addHandler(muxer.codec, muxer)
 
-      # handle subsequent requests
+      # handle subsequent secure requests
       await ms.handle(sconn)
 
     except CancelledError as exc:
@@ -273,8 +273,9 @@ proc upgradeIncoming(s: Switch, conn: Connection) {.async, gcsafe.} =
     for k in s.secureManagers:
       ms.addHandler(k.codec, securedHandler)
 
-    # handle secured connections
-  await ms.handle(conn)
+  # handle un-secured connections
+  # we handshaked above, set this ms handler as active
+  await ms.handle(conn, active = true)
 
 proc internalConnect(s: Switch,
                      peer: PeerInfo): Future[Connection] {.async.} =