diff --git a/src/net.cpp b/src/net.cpp
index 73e147c1a..2aab1dfcd 100644
--- a/src/net.cpp
+++ b/src/net.cpp
@@ -470,12 +470,20 @@ CNode* ConnectNode(CAddress addrConnect, const char *pszDest) {
     bool connected = false;
     std::unique_ptr<Sock> sock;
 
-    if (!addrConnect.IsValid()) {
-        return NULL;
-    }
+    // When connecting by name (pszDest is set, e.g. -connect / -addnode host:port
+    // or "addnode <host> onetry"), addrConnect is an empty placeholder — the real
+    // target is resolved from pszDest by ConnectSocketByName() below. Only validate
+    // addrConnect when we are dialing it directly (pszDest == NULL); otherwise
+    // IsValid()/IsReachable() on the empty address abort the connection before it is
+    // ever attempted, which silently breaks -connect.
+    if (!pszDest) {
+        if (!addrConnect.IsValid()) {
+            return NULL;
+        }
 
-    if (!IsReachable(addrConnect)) {
-        return NULL;
+        if (!IsReachable(addrConnect)) {
+            return NULL;
+        }
     }
 
     if (addrConnect.GetNetwork() == NET_I2P && m_i2p_sam_session.get() != nullptr) {