diff --git a/lib/net.js b/lib/net.js
index cb8e25ed60..4467654802 100644
--- a/lib/net.js
+++ b/lib/net.js
@@ -399,6 +399,12 @@ Socket.prototype.write = function(data, arg1, arg2) {
     return false;
   }
 
+  return this._write(data, encoding, cb);
+};
+
+
+Socket.prototype._write = function(data, encoding, cb) {
+  // `encoding` is unused right now, `data` is always a buffer.
   var writeReq = this._handle.write(data);
 
   if (!writeReq) {
@@ -557,7 +563,7 @@ function afterConnect(status, handle, req) {
     if (self._connectQueue) {
       debug('Drain the connect queue');
       for (var i = 0; i < self._connectQueue.length; i++) {
-        self.write.apply(self, self._connectQueue[i]);
+        self._write.apply(self, self._connectQueue[i]);
       }
       self._connectQueueCleanUp();
     }