diff --git a/lib/client/client.js b/lib/client/client.js
index 4d4b15a..65015b6 100644
--- a/lib/client/client.js
+++ b/lib/client/client.js
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ function Client(options) {
 
   this.socket = null;
   this.connected = false;
-  this._connect();
+  this.connect();
 }
 util.inherits(Client, EventEmitter);
 module.exports = Client;
@@ -861,13 +861,11 @@ Client.prototype.destroy = function destroy(err) {
 };
 
 
-///--- Private API
-
 /**
  * Initiate LDAP connection.
  */
-Client.prototype._connect = function _connect() {
-  if (this.connecting) {
+Client.prototype.connect = function connect() {
+  if (this.connecting || this.connected) {
     return;
   }
   var self = this;
@@ -1103,6 +1101,10 @@ Client.prototype._connect = function _connect() {
   retry.backoff();
 };
 
+
+
+///--- Private API
+
 /**
  * Flush queued requests out to the socket.
  */
@@ -1153,7 +1155,7 @@ Client.prototype._onClose = function _onClose(had_err) {
   // Automatically fire reconnect logic if the socket was closed for any reason
   // other than a user-initiated unbind.
   if (this.reconnect && !this.unbound) {
-    this._connect();
+    this.connect();
   }
   this.unbound = false;
   return false;
@@ -1218,7 +1220,7 @@ Client.prototype._send = function _send(message,
     }
     // Initiate reconnect if needed
     if (this.reconnect) {
-      this._connect();
+      this.connect();
     }
     return false;
   } else {