diff --git a/docs/RPC-INTERFACE.rst b/docs/RPC-INTERFACE.rst
index bb0aed9..b5dc960 100644
--- a/docs/RPC-INTERFACE.rst
+++ b/docs/RPC-INTERFACE.rst
@@ -156,6 +156,17 @@ The following commands are available:
   Currently peer data is obtained via a peer discovery protocol; it
   used to be taken from IRC.
 
+* **add_peer**
+
+  Add a peer to the peers list.  ElectrumX will schdule an immediate
+  connection attempt.  This command takes a single argument: the
+  peer's "real name" as it would advertise itself on IRC.
+
+  .. code::
+
+    $ ./electrumx_rpc.py add_peer "ecdsa.net v1.0 s110 t"
+    "peer 'ecdsa.net v1.0 s110 t' added"
+
 * **daemon_url**
 
   This command takes an optional argument that is interpreted
diff --git a/server/controller.py b/server/controller.py
index c0cbf6b..18b33fd 100644
--- a/server/controller.py
+++ b/server/controller.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import pylru
 
 from lib.jsonrpc import JSONRPC, JSONSessionBase, RPCError
 from lib.hash import double_sha256, hash_to_str, hex_str_to_hash
+from lib.peer import Peer
 import lib.util as util
 from server.block_processor import BlockProcessor
 from server.daemon import Daemon, DaemonError
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ class Controller(util.LoggedClass):
         env.max_send = max(350000, env.max_send)
         self.setup_bands()
         # Set up the RPC request handlers
-        cmds = ('daemon_url disconnect getinfo groups log peers reorg '
+        cmds = ('add_peer daemon_url disconnect getinfo groups log peers reorg '
                 'sessions stop'.split())
         self.rpc_handlers = {cmd: getattr(self, 'rpc_' + cmd) for cmd in cmds}
         # Set up the ElectrumX request handlers
@@ -579,6 +580,15 @@ class Controller(util.LoggedClass):
 
     # Local RPC command handlers
 
+    def rpc_add_peer(self, real_name):
+        '''Add a peer.
+
+        real_name: a real name, as would appear on IRC
+        '''
+        peer = Peer.from_real_name(real_name, 'RPC')
+        self.peer_mgr.add_peers([peer])
+        return "peer '{}' added".format(real_name)
+
     def rpc_disconnect(self, session_ids):
         '''Disconnect sesssions.