diff --git a/libp2p/dial.nim b/libp2p/dial.nim
index e0d78b906..60d63e35a 100644
--- a/libp2p/dial.nim
+++ b/libp2p/dial.nim
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@ method connect*(
 
 method connect*(
   self: Dial,
-  addrs: seq[MultiAddress]): Future[PeerId] {.async, base.} =
+  address: MultiAddress,
+  allowUnknownPeerId = false): Future[PeerId] {.async, base.} =
   ## Connects to a peer and retrieve its PeerId
 
   doAssert(false, "Not implemented!")
diff --git a/libp2p/dialer.nim b/libp2p/dialer.nim
index d3c0826dd..4e39733a4 100644
--- a/libp2p/dialer.nim
+++ b/libp2p/dialer.nim
@@ -219,11 +219,23 @@ method connect*(
 
 method connect*(
   self: Dialer,
-  addrs: seq[MultiAddress],
-  ): Future[PeerId] {.async.} =
+  address: MultiAddress,
+  allowUnknownPeerId = false): Future[PeerId] {.async.} =
   ## Connects to a peer and retrieve its PeerId
 
-  return (await self.internalConnect(Opt.none(PeerId), addrs, false)).peerId
+  let fullAddress = parseFullAddress(address)
+  if fullAddress.isOk:
+    return (await self.internalConnect(
+      Opt.some(fullAddress.get()[0]),
+      @[fullAddress.get()[1]],
+      false)).peerId
+  else:
+    if allowUnknownPeerId == false:
+      raise newException(DialFailedError, "Address without PeerID and unknown peer id disabled!")
+    return (await self.internalConnect(
+      Opt.none(PeerId),
+      @[address],
+      false)).peerId
 
 proc negotiateStream(
   self: Dialer,
diff --git a/libp2p/switch.nim b/libp2p/switch.nim
index b1a7d489e..85fe583ef 100644
--- a/libp2p/switch.nim
+++ b/libp2p/switch.nim
@@ -130,10 +130,15 @@ method connect*(
 
 method connect*(
   s: Switch,
-  addrs: seq[MultiAddress]): Future[PeerId] =
+  address: MultiAddress,
+  allowUnknownPeerId = false): Future[PeerId] =
   ## Connects to a peer and retrieve its PeerId
+  ##
+  ## If the P2P part is missing from the MA and `allowUnknownPeerId` is set
+  ## to true, this will discover the PeerId while connecting. This exposes
+  ## you to MiTM attacks, so it shouldn't be used without care!
 
-  s.dialer.connect(addrs)
+  s.dialer.connect(address, allowUnknownPeerId)
 
 method dial*(
   s: Switch,
diff --git a/tests/testswitch.nim b/tests/testswitch.nim
index 3cbb66d7e..92a7d9f53 100644
--- a/tests/testswitch.nim
+++ b/tests/testswitch.nim
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import ../libp2p/[errors,
                   builders,
                   stream/bufferstream,
                   stream/connection,
+                  multicodec,
                   multiaddress,
                   peerinfo,
                   crypto/crypto,
@@ -213,12 +214,40 @@ suite "Switch":
       "dnsaddr=" & $switch1.peerInfo.addrs[0] & "/p2p/" & $switch1.peerInfo.peerId,
     ]
 
-    check: (await switch2.connect(@[MultiAddress.init("/dnsaddr/test.io/").tryGet()])) == switch1.peerInfo.peerId
+    check: (await switch2.connect(MultiAddress.init("/dnsaddr/test.io/").tryGet(), true)) == switch1.peerInfo.peerId
     await switch2.disconnect(switch1.peerInfo.peerId)
 
     # via direct ip
     check not switch2.isConnected(switch1.peerInfo.peerId)
-    check: (await switch2.connect(switch1.peerInfo.addrs)) == switch1.peerInfo.peerId
+    check: (await switch2.connect(switch1.peerInfo.addrs[0], true)) == switch1.peerInfo.peerId
+
+    await switch2.disconnect(switch1.peerInfo.peerId)
+
+    await allFuturesThrowing(
+      switch1.stop(),
+      switch2.stop()
+    )
+
+  asyncTest "e2e connect to peer with known PeerId":
+    let switch1 = newStandardSwitch(secureManagers = [SecureProtocol.Noise])
+    let switch2 = newStandardSwitch(secureManagers = [SecureProtocol.Noise])
+    await switch1.start()
+    await switch2.start()
+
+    # via direct ip
+    check not switch2.isConnected(switch1.peerInfo.peerId)
+
+    # without specifying allow unknown, will fail
+    expect(DialFailedError):
+      discard await switch2.connect(switch1.peerInfo.addrs[0])
+
+    # with invalid PeerId, will fail
+    let fakeMa = concat(switch1.peerInfo.addrs[0], MultiAddress.init(multiCodec("p2p"), PeerId.random.tryGet().data).tryGet()).tryGet()
+    expect(CatchableError):
+      discard (await switch2.connect(fakeMa))
+
+    # real thing works
+    check (await switch2.connect(switch1.peerInfo.fullAddrs.tryGet()[0])) == switch1.peerInfo.peerId
 
     await switch2.disconnect(switch1.peerInfo.peerId)