diff --git a/doc/release-notes.md b/doc/release-notes.md
--- a/doc/release-notes.md
+++ b/doc/release-notes.md
@@ -22,3 +22,9 @@
 - The `importmulti` RPC will now contain a new per-request `warnings`
   field with strings that explain when fields are being ignored or
   inconsistent, if any.
+
+Seeder
+------
+- Added `-connect` and `-addnode` options to the seeder to allow control
+  over the initial list of ips upon seeder start up.  See
+  `./bitcoin-seeder -help` for more details.
diff --git a/src/seeder/main.cpp b/src/seeder/main.cpp
--- a/src/seeder/main.cpp
+++ b/src/seeder/main.cpp
@@ -149,6 +149,19 @@
         gArgs.AddArg("-filter=<f1,f2,...>",
                      "Allow these flag combinations as filters",
                      ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY, OptionsCategory::OPTIONS);
+        gArgs.AddArg(
+            "-connect=<ip>",
+            "Determines initial seeder connection behavior. -connect=1 starts "
+            "the seeder without any initial regulations on ips it can connect "
+            "to. -connect=0 disbales automatic connection to any initial ips. "
+            "-connect=<ip> prevents connection to all ips except <ip> (this is "
+            "short hand for -connect=0 -addseed=<ip>). See also: -addseed. "
+            "(default: 1)",
+            ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY, OptionsCategory::CONNECTION);
+        gArgs.AddArg("-addseed=<ip>",
+                     "Append <ip> to the initial list of allowable "
+                     "connections.  Can be set multiple times.",
+                     ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY, OptionsCategory::OPTIONS);
         gArgs.AddArg("-wipeban", "Wipe list of banned nodes",
                      ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY, OptionsCategory::CONNECTION);
         gArgs.AddArg("-wipeignore", "Wipe list of ignored nodes",
@@ -462,8 +475,19 @@
 const static unsigned int MAX_HOSTS_PER_SEED = 128;
 
 extern "C" void *ThreadSeeder(void *) {
+    std::vector<std::string> seeds;
+    std::string connect = gArgs.GetArg("-connect", "1");
+    if (connect == "1") {
+        seeds = Params().DNSSeeds();
+    } else if (connect != "0") {
+        seeds.push_back(connect);
+    }
+    if (gArgs.IsArgSet("-addseed")) {
+        auto addedSeeds = gArgs.GetArgs("-addseed");
+        seeds.insert(seeds.end(), addedSeeds.begin(), addedSeeds.end());
+    }
     do {
-        for (const std::string &seed : Params().DNSSeeds()) {
+        for (const std::string &seed : seeds) {
             std::vector<CNetAddr> ips;
             LookupHost(seed.c_str(), ips, MAX_HOSTS_PER_SEED, true);
             for (auto &ip : ips) {