diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/mininode.py b/test/functional/test_framework/mininode.py
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/mininode.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/mininode.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
     def __init__(self):
         super().__init__(map=mininode_socket_map)
 
-    def peer_connect(self, dstaddr, dstport, net="regtest", services=NODE_NETWORK, send_version=True):
+    def peer_connect(self, dstaddr, dstport, net="regtest"):
         self.dstaddr = dstaddr
         self.dstport = dstport
         self.create_socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
@@ -87,16 +87,6 @@
         self.network = net
         self.disconnect = False
 
-        if send_version:
-            # stuff version msg into sendbuf
-            vt = msg_version()
-            vt.nServices = services
-            vt.addrTo.ip = self.dstaddr
-            vt.addrTo.port = self.dstport
-            vt.addrFrom.ip = "0.0.0.0"
-            vt.addrFrom.port = 0
-            self.send_message(vt, True)
-
         logger.info('Connecting to Bitcoin Node: %s:%d' %
                     (self.dstaddr, self.dstport))
 
@@ -291,6 +281,19 @@
         # The network services received from the peer
         self.nServices = 0
 
+    def peer_connect(self, *args, services=NODE_NETWORK, send_version=True, **kwargs):
+        super().peer_connect(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        if send_version:
+            # Send a version msg
+            vt = msg_version()
+            vt.nServices = services
+            vt.addrTo.ip = self.dstaddr
+            vt.addrTo.port = self.dstport
+            vt.addrFrom.ip = "0.0.0.0"
+            vt.addrFrom.port = 0
+            self.send_message(vt, True)
+
     # Message receiving methods
 
     def on_message(self, message):