diff --git a/benchmarks/blockchain/localsync.sh b/benchmarks/blockchain/localsync.sh
index e181c5655..18afaee82 100755
--- a/benchmarks/blockchain/localsync.sh
+++ b/benchmarks/blockchain/localsync.sh
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ tendermint node \
   --proxy_app dummy \
   --p2p.laddr tcp://127.0.0.1:56666 \
   --rpc.laddr tcp://127.0.0.1:56667 \
-  --p2p.seeds 127.0.0.1:56656 \
+  --p2p.manual_peers 127.0.0.1:56656 \
   --log_level error &
 
 # wait for node to start up so we only count time where we are actually syncing
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go
index 0f37bb319..5b87a4b82 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ func AddNodeFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 	// p2p flags
 	cmd.Flags().String("p2p.laddr", config.P2P.ListenAddress, "Node listen address. (0.0.0.0:0 means any interface, any port)")
 	cmd.Flags().String("p2p.seeds", config.P2P.Seeds, "Comma delimited host:port seed nodes")
+	cmd.Flags().String("p2p.manual_peers", config.P2P.ManualPeers, "Comma delimited host:port manual peers")
 	cmd.Flags().Bool("p2p.skip_upnp", config.P2P.SkipUPNP, "Skip UPNP configuration")
 	cmd.Flags().Bool("p2p.pex", config.P2P.PexReactor, "Enable/disable Peer-Exchange")
 
diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 5d4a8ef65..2d38ed916 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ type RPCConfig struct {
 	// NOTE: This server only supports /broadcast_tx_commit
 	GRPCListenAddress string `mapstructure:"grpc_laddr"`
 
-	// Activate unsafe RPC commands like /dial_seeds and /unsafe_flush_mempool
+	// Activate unsafe RPC commands like /dial_manual_peers and /unsafe_flush_mempool
 	Unsafe bool `mapstructure:"unsafe"`
 }
 
@@ -203,8 +203,13 @@ type P2PConfig struct {
 	ListenAddress string `mapstructure:"laddr"`
 
 	// Comma separated list of seed nodes to connect to
+	// We only use these if we can’t connect to peers in the addrbook
 	Seeds string `mapstructure:"seeds"`
 
+	// Comma separated list of manual peers to connect to
+	// We always connect to these
+	ManualPeers string `mapstructure:"manual_peers"`
+
 	// Skip UPNP port forwarding
 	SkipUPNP bool `mapstructure:"skip_upnp"`
 
diff --git a/config/toml.go b/config/toml.go
index 735f45c12..59fc46dcf 100644
--- a/config/toml.go
+++ b/config/toml.go
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ laddr = "tcp://0.0.0.0:46657"
 [p2p]
 laddr = "tcp://0.0.0.0:46656"
 seeds = ""
+manual_peers = ""
 `
 
 func defaultConfig(moniker string) string {
@@ -106,6 +107,7 @@ laddr = "tcp://0.0.0.0:36657"
 [p2p]
 laddr = "tcp://0.0.0.0:36656"
 seeds = ""
+manual_peers = ""
 `
 
 func testConfig(moniker string) (testConfig string) {
diff --git a/docs/deploy-testnets.rst b/docs/deploy-testnets.rst
index 89fa4b799..8c66c4b34 100644
--- a/docs/deploy-testnets.rst
+++ b/docs/deploy-testnets.rst
@@ -24,13 +24,13 @@ Here are the steps to setting up a testnet manually:
    ``tendermint gen_validator``
 4) Compile a list of public keys for each validator into a
    ``genesis.json`` file.
-5) Run ``tendermint node --p2p.seeds=< seed addresses >`` on each node,
-   where ``< seed addresses >`` is a comma separated list of the IP:PORT
+5) Run ``tendermint node --p2p.manual_peers=< peer addresses >`` on each node,
+   where ``< peer addresses >`` is a comma separated list of the IP:PORT
    combination for each node. The default port for Tendermint is
    ``46656``. Thus, if the IP addresses of your nodes were
    ``192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.2, 192.168.0.3, 192.168.0.4``, the command
    would look like:
-   ``tendermint node --p2p.seeds=192.168.0.1:46656,192.168.0.2:46656,192.168.0.3:46656,192.168.0.4:46656``.
+   ``tendermint node --p2p.manual_peers=192.168.0.1:46656,192.168.0.2:46656,192.168.0.3:46656,192.168.0.4:46656``.
 
 After a few seconds, all the nodes should connect to eachother and start
 making blocks! For more information, see the Tendermint Networks section
diff --git a/docs/specification/configuration.rst b/docs/specification/configuration.rst
index 74b41d09d..3271cd59d 100644
--- a/docs/specification/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/specification/configuration.rst
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ The main config parameters are defined
 -  ``p2p.pex``: Enable Peer-Exchange (dev feature). *Default*: ``false``
 -  ``p2p.seeds``: Comma delimited host:port seed nodes. *Default*:
    ``""``
+-  ``p2p.manual_peers``: Comma delimited host:port manual peers. *Default*:
+   ``""``
 -  ``p2p.skip_upnp``: Skip UPNP detection. *Default*: ``false``
 
 -  ``rpc.grpc_laddr``: GRPC listen address (BroadcastTx only). Port
diff --git a/docs/specification/rpc.rst b/docs/specification/rpc.rst
index 33173d196..f637c1717 100644
--- a/docs/specification/rpc.rst
+++ b/docs/specification/rpc.rst
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ An HTTP Get request to the root RPC endpoint (e.g.
     http://localhost:46657/broadcast_tx_commit?tx=_
     http://localhost:46657/broadcast_tx_sync?tx=_
     http://localhost:46657/commit?height=_
-    http://localhost:46657/dial_seeds?seeds=_
+    http://localhost:46657/dial_manual_peers?manual_peers=_
     http://localhost:46657/subscribe?event=_
     http://localhost:46657/tx?hash=_&prove=_
     http://localhost:46657/unsafe_start_cpu_profiler?filename=_
diff --git a/docs/using-tendermint.rst b/docs/using-tendermint.rst
index 9076230ea..2ec5624ec 100644
--- a/docs/using-tendermint.rst
+++ b/docs/using-tendermint.rst
@@ -270,14 +270,14 @@ For instance,
 
 ::
 
-    tendermint node --p2p.seeds "1.2.3.4:46656,5.6.7.8:46656"
+    tendermint node --p2p.manual_peers "1.2.3.4:46656,5.6.7.8:46656"
 
-Alternatively, you can use the ``/dial_seeds`` endpoint of the RPC to
+Alternatively, you can use the ``/dial_manual_peers`` endpoint of the RPC to
 specify peers for a running node to connect to:
 
 ::
 
-    curl --data-urlencode "seeds=[\"1.2.3.4:46656\",\"5.6.7.8:46656\"]" localhost:46657/dial_seeds
+    curl --data-urlencode "manual_peers=[\"1.2.3.4:46656\",\"5.6.7.8:46656\"]" localhost:46657/dial_manual_peers
 
 Additionally, the peer-exchange protocol can be enabled using the
 ``--pex`` flag, though this feature is `still under
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ Adding a Non-Validator
 
 Adding a non-validator is simple. Just copy the original
 ``genesis.json`` to ``~/.tendermint`` on the new machine and start the
-node, specifying seeds as necessary. If no seeds are specified, the node
+node, specifying manual_peers as necessary. If no manual_peers are specified, the node
 won't make any blocks, because it's not a validator, and it won't hear
 about any blocks, because it's not connected to the other peer.
 
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ and the new ``priv_validator.json`` to the ``~/.tendermint`` on a new
 machine.
 
 Now run ``tendermint node`` on both machines, and use either
-``--p2p.seeds`` or the ``/dial_seeds`` to get them to peer up. They
+``--p2p.manual_peers`` or the ``/dial_manual_peers`` to get them to peer up. They
 should start making blocks, and will only continue to do so as long as
 both of them are online.
 
diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index f8164955d..1970bb88e 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -380,40 +380,44 @@ func (n *Node) OnStart() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	err = n.dialSeedsIfAddrBookIsEmptyOrPEXFailedToConnect()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	// Always connect to manual peers
+	if n.config.P2P.ManualPeers != "" {
+		err = n.sw.DialPeersAsync(n.addrBook, strings.Split(n.config.P2P.ManualPeers, ","), true)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	if n.config.P2P.Seeds != "" {
+		err = n.dialSeedsIfAddrBookIsEmptyOrPEXFailedToConnect(strings.Split(n.config.P2P.Seeds, ","))
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	// start tx indexer
 	return n.indexerService.Start()
 }
 
-func (n *Node) dialSeedsIfAddrBookIsEmptyOrPEXFailedToConnect() error {
-	if n.config.P2P.Seeds == "" {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	seeds := strings.Split(n.config.P2P.Seeds, ",")
-
+func (n *Node) dialSeedsIfAddrBookIsEmptyOrPEXFailedToConnect(seeds []string) error {
 	// prefer peers from address book
 	if n.config.P2P.PexReactor && n.addrBook.Size() > 0 {
-		// give some time to PexReactor to connect us to other peers
-		const fallbackToSeedsAfterSec = 30 * time.Second
+		// give some time for PexReactor to connect us to other peers
+		const fallbackToSeedsAfter = 30 * time.Second
 		go func() {
-			time.Sleep(fallbackToSeedsAfterSec)
+			time.Sleep(fallbackToSeedsAfter)
 			// fallback to dialing seeds if for some reason we can't connect to any
 			// peers
 			outbound, inbound, _ := n.sw.NumPeers()
 			if n.IsRunning() && outbound+inbound == 0 {
-				n.DialSeeds(seeds)
+				// TODO: ignore error?
+				n.sw.DialPeersAsync(n.addrBook, seeds, false)
 			}
 		}()
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// add seeds to the address book and dial out
-	return n.DialSeeds(seeds)
+	return n.sw.DialPeersAsync(n.addrBook, seeds, false)
 }
 
 // OnStop stops the Node. It implements cmn.Service.
@@ -599,11 +603,6 @@ func (n *Node) NodeInfo() *p2p.NodeInfo {
 	return n.sw.NodeInfo()
 }
 
-// DialSeeds dials the given seeds on the Switch.
-func (n *Node) DialSeeds(seeds []string) error {
-	return n.sw.DialSeeds(n.addrBook, seeds)
-}
-
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 var (
diff --git a/p2p/pex_reactor.go b/p2p/pex_reactor.go
index 2bfe7dcab..d4a8cbf18 100644
--- a/p2p/pex_reactor.go
+++ b/p2p/pex_reactor.go
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func (r *PEXReactor) GetChannels() []*ChannelDescriptor {
 func (r *PEXReactor) AddPeer(p Peer) {
 	if p.IsOutbound() {
 		// For outbound peers, the address is already in the books.
-		// Either it was added in DialSeeds or when we
+		// Either it was added in DialManualPeers or when we
 		// received the peer's address in r.Receive
 		if r.book.NeedMoreAddrs() {
 			r.RequestPEX(p)
diff --git a/p2p/switch.go b/p2p/switch.go
index 76b019806..4deee63d4 100644
--- a/p2p/switch.go
+++ b/p2p/switch.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import (
 
 const (
 	// wait a random amount of time from this interval
-	// before dialing seeds or reconnecting to help prevent DoS
+	// before dialing peers or reconnecting to help prevent DoS
 	dialRandomizerIntervalMilliseconds = 3000
 
 	// repeatedly try to reconnect for a few minutes
@@ -315,15 +315,15 @@ func (sw *Switch) startInitPeer(peer *peer) {
 	}
 }
 
-// DialSeeds dials a list of seeds asynchronously in random order.
-func (sw *Switch) DialSeeds(addrBook *AddrBook, seeds []string) error {
-	netAddrs, errs := NewNetAddressStrings(seeds)
+// DialPeersAsync dials a list of peers asynchronously in random order (optionally, making them persistent).
+func (sw *Switch) DialPeersAsync(addrBook *AddrBook, peers []string, persistent bool) error {
+	netAddrs, errs := NewNetAddressStrings(peers)
 	for _, err := range errs {
-		sw.Logger.Error("Error in seed's address", "err", err)
+		sw.Logger.Error("Error in peer's address", "err", err)
 	}
 
 	if addrBook != nil {
-		// add seeds to `addrBook`
+		// add manual peers to `addrBook`
 		ourAddrS := sw.nodeInfo.ListenAddr
 		ourAddr, _ := NewNetAddressString(ourAddrS)
 		for _, netAddr := range netAddrs {
@@ -342,7 +342,12 @@ func (sw *Switch) DialSeeds(addrBook *AddrBook, seeds []string) error {
 		go func(i int) {
 			sw.randomSleep(0)
 			j := perm[i]
-			sw.dialSeed(netAddrs[j])
+			peer, err := sw.DialPeerWithAddress(netAddrs[j], persistent)
+			if err != nil {
+				sw.Logger.Error("Error dialing peer", "err", err)
+			} else {
+				sw.Logger.Info("Connected to peer", "peer", peer)
+			}
 		}(i)
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -354,15 +359,6 @@ func (sw *Switch) randomSleep(interval time.Duration) {
 	time.Sleep(r + interval)
 }
 
-func (sw *Switch) dialSeed(addr *NetAddress) {
-	peer, err := sw.DialPeerWithAddress(addr, true)
-	if err != nil {
-		sw.Logger.Error("Error dialing seed", "err", err)
-	} else {
-		sw.Logger.Info("Connected to seed", "peer", peer)
-	}
-}
-
 // DialPeerWithAddress dials the given peer and runs sw.addPeer if it connects successfully.
 // If `persistent == true`, the switch will always try to reconnect to this peer if the connection ever fails.
 func (sw *Switch) DialPeerWithAddress(addr *NetAddress, persistent bool) (Peer, error) {
diff --git a/rpc/client/localclient.go b/rpc/client/localclient.go
index 71f25ef23..d30f7543c 100644
--- a/rpc/client/localclient.go
+++ b/rpc/client/localclient.go
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ func (Local) DumpConsensusState() (*ctypes.ResultDumpConsensusState, error) {
 	return core.DumpConsensusState()
 }
 
-func (Local) DialSeeds(seeds []string) (*ctypes.ResultDialSeeds, error) {
-	return core.UnsafeDialSeeds(seeds)
+func (Local) DialManualPeers(manual_peers []string) (*ctypes.ResultDialManualPeers, error) {
+	return core.UnsafeDialManualPeers(manual_peers)
 }
 
 func (Local) BlockchainInfo(minHeight, maxHeight int64) (*ctypes.ResultBlockchainInfo, error) {
diff --git a/rpc/client/mock/client.go b/rpc/client/mock/client.go
index dc75e04cb..84f6aa2d7 100644
--- a/rpc/client/mock/client.go
+++ b/rpc/client/mock/client.go
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ func (c Client) NetInfo() (*ctypes.ResultNetInfo, error) {
 	return core.NetInfo()
 }
 
-func (c Client) DialSeeds(seeds []string) (*ctypes.ResultDialSeeds, error) {
-	return core.UnsafeDialSeeds(seeds)
+func (c Client) DialManualPeers(manual_peers []string) (*ctypes.ResultDialManualPeers, error) {
+	return core.UnsafeDialManualPeers(manual_peers)
 }
 
 func (c Client) BlockchainInfo(minHeight, maxHeight int64) (*ctypes.ResultBlockchainInfo, error) {
diff --git a/rpc/core/doc.go b/rpc/core/doc.go
index a72cec020..1a59459dd 100644
--- a/rpc/core/doc.go
+++ b/rpc/core/doc.go
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ Endpoints that require arguments:
 /broadcast_tx_commit?tx=_
 /broadcast_tx_sync?tx=_
 /commit?height=_
-/dial_seeds?seeds=_
+/dial_manual_peers?manual_peers=_
 /subscribe?event=_
 /tx?hash=_&prove=_
 /unsafe_start_cpu_profiler?filename=_
diff --git a/rpc/core/net.go b/rpc/core/net.go
index b3f1c7ce5..845cda646 100644
--- a/rpc/core/net.go
+++ b/rpc/core/net.go
@@ -54,18 +54,18 @@ func NetInfo() (*ctypes.ResultNetInfo, error) {
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func UnsafeDialSeeds(seeds []string) (*ctypes.ResultDialSeeds, error) {
+func UnsafeDialManualPeers(manual_peers []string) (*ctypes.ResultDialManualPeers, error) {
 
-	if len(seeds) == 0 {
-		return &ctypes.ResultDialSeeds{}, fmt.Errorf("No seeds provided")
+	if len(manual_peers) == 0 {
+		return &ctypes.ResultDialManualPeers{}, fmt.Errorf("No manual peers provided")
 	}
-	// starts go routines to dial each seed after random delays
-	logger.Info("DialSeeds", "addrBook", addrBook, "seeds", seeds)
-	err := p2pSwitch.DialSeeds(addrBook, seeds)
+	// starts go routines to dial each peer after random delays
+	logger.Info("DialManualPeers", "addrBook", addrBook, "manual_peers", manual_peers)
+	err := p2pSwitch.DialPeersAsync(addrBook, manual_peers, true)
 	if err != nil {
-		return &ctypes.ResultDialSeeds{}, err
+		return &ctypes.ResultDialManualPeers{}, err
 	}
-	return &ctypes.ResultDialSeeds{"Dialing seeds in progress. See /net_info for details"}, nil
+	return &ctypes.ResultDialManualPeers{"Dialing manual peers in progress. See /net_info for details"}, nil
 }
 
 // Get genesis file.
diff --git a/rpc/core/pipe.go b/rpc/core/pipe.go
index 927d7ccad..6d67fd898 100644
--- a/rpc/core/pipe.go
+++ b/rpc/core/pipe.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ type P2P interface {
 	NumPeers() (outbound, inbound, dialig int)
 	NodeInfo() *p2p.NodeInfo
 	IsListening() bool
-	DialSeeds(*p2p.AddrBook, []string) error
+	DialPeersAsync(*p2p.AddrBook, []string, bool) error
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------
diff --git a/rpc/core/routes.go b/rpc/core/routes.go
index fb5a1fd36..84d405ac6 100644
--- a/rpc/core/routes.go
+++ b/rpc/core/routes.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ var Routes = map[string]*rpc.RPCFunc{
 
 func AddUnsafeRoutes() {
 	// control API
-	Routes["dial_seeds"] = rpc.NewRPCFunc(UnsafeDialSeeds, "seeds")
+	Routes["dial_manual_peers"] = rpc.NewRPCFunc(UnsafeDialManualPeers, "manual_peers")
 	Routes["unsafe_flush_mempool"] = rpc.NewRPCFunc(UnsafeFlushMempool, "")
 
 	// profiler API
diff --git a/rpc/core/types/responses.go b/rpc/core/types/responses.go
index dae7c0046..4d8e79469 100644
--- a/rpc/core/types/responses.go
+++ b/rpc/core/types/responses.go
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ type ResultNetInfo struct {
 	Peers     []Peer   `json:"peers"`
 }
 
-type ResultDialSeeds struct {
+type ResultDialManualPeers struct {
 	Log string `json:"log"`
 }
 
diff --git a/test/p2p/README.md b/test/p2p/README.md
index e2a577cfa..692b730b2 100644
--- a/test/p2p/README.md
+++ b/test/p2p/README.md
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ for i in $(seq 1 4); do
 	  --name local_testnet_$i \
 	  --entrypoint tendermint \
 	  -e TMHOME=/go/src/github.com/tendermint/tendermint/test/p2p/data/mach$i/core \
-	  tendermint_tester node --p2p.seeds 172.57.0.101:46656,172.57.0.102:46656,172.57.0.103:46656,172.57.0.104:46656 --proxy_app=dummy
+	  tendermint_tester node --p2p.manual_peers 172.57.0.101:46656,172.57.0.102:46656,172.57.0.103:46656,172.57.0.104:46656 --proxy_app=dummy
 done
 ```
 
diff --git a/test/p2p/fast_sync/test_peer.sh b/test/p2p/fast_sync/test_peer.sh
index 8174be0e7..ab5d517d9 100644
--- a/test/p2p/fast_sync/test_peer.sh
+++ b/test/p2p/fast_sync/test_peer.sh
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ docker rm -vf local_testnet_$ID
 set -e
 
 # restart peer - should have an empty blockchain
-SEEDS="$(test/p2p/ip.sh 1):46656"
+MANUAL_PEERS="$(test/p2p/ip.sh 1):46656"
 for j in `seq 2 $N`; do
-	SEEDS="$SEEDS,$(test/p2p/ip.sh $j):46656"
+	MANUAL_PEERS="$MANUAL_PEERS,$(test/p2p/ip.sh $j):46656"
 done
-bash test/p2p/peer.sh $DOCKER_IMAGE $NETWORK_NAME $ID $PROXY_APP "--p2p.seeds $SEEDS --p2p.pex --rpc.unsafe"
+bash test/p2p/peer.sh $DOCKER_IMAGE $NETWORK_NAME $ID $PROXY_APP "--p2p.manual_peers $MANUAL_PEERS --p2p.pex --rpc.unsafe"
 
 # wait for peer to sync and check the app hash
 bash test/p2p/client.sh $DOCKER_IMAGE $NETWORK_NAME fs_$ID "test/p2p/fast_sync/check_peer.sh $ID"
diff --git a/test/p2p/local_testnet_start.sh b/test/p2p/local_testnet_start.sh
index f70bdf04c..c808c613d 100644
--- a/test/p2p/local_testnet_start.sh
+++ b/test/p2p/local_testnet_start.sh
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@ N=$3
 APP_PROXY=$4
 
 set +u
-SEEDS=$5
-if [[ "$SEEDS" != "" ]]; then
-	echo "Seeds: $SEEDS"
-	SEEDS="--p2p.seeds $SEEDS"
+MANUAL_PEERS=$5
+if [[ "$MANUAL_PEERS" != "" ]]; then
+	echo "ManualPeers: $MANUAL_PEERS"
+	MANUAL_PEERS="--p2p.manual_peers $MANUAL_PEERS"
 fi
 set -u
 
@@ -20,5 +20,5 @@ cd "$GOPATH/src/github.com/tendermint/tendermint"
 docker network create --driver bridge --subnet 172.57.0.0/16 "$NETWORK_NAME"
 
 for i in $(seq 1 "$N"); do
-	bash test/p2p/peer.sh "$DOCKER_IMAGE" "$NETWORK_NAME" "$i" "$APP_PROXY" "$SEEDS --p2p.pex --rpc.unsafe"
+	bash test/p2p/peer.sh "$DOCKER_IMAGE" "$NETWORK_NAME" "$i" "$APP_PROXY" "$MANUAL_PEERS --p2p.pex --rpc.unsafe"
 done
diff --git a/test/p2p/manual_peers.sh b/test/p2p/manual_peers.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..90051b15b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/p2p/manual_peers.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#! /bin/bash
+set -eu
+
+N=$1
+
+cd "$GOPATH/src/github.com/tendermint/tendermint"
+
+manual_peers="$(test/p2p/ip.sh 1):46656"
+for i in $(seq 2 $N); do
+	manual_peers="$manual_peers,$(test/p2p/ip.sh $i):46656"
+done
+echo "$manual_peers"
diff --git a/test/p2p/pex/dial_seeds.sh b/test/p2p/pex/dial_manual_peers.sh
similarity index 60%
rename from test/p2p/pex/dial_seeds.sh
rename to test/p2p/pex/dial_manual_peers.sh
index 15c22af67..4ee79b869 100644
--- a/test/p2p/pex/dial_seeds.sh
+++ b/test/p2p/pex/dial_manual_peers.sh
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@ for i in `seq 1 $N`; do
 done
 
 set -e
-# seeds need quotes
-seeds="\"$(test/p2p/ip.sh 1):46656\""
+# manual_peers need quotes
+manual_peers="\"$(test/p2p/ip.sh 1):46656\""
 for i in `seq 2 $N`; do
-	seeds="$seeds,\"$(test/p2p/ip.sh $i):46656\""
+	manual_peers="$manual_peers,\"$(test/p2p/ip.sh $i):46656\""
 done
-echo $seeds
+echo $manual_peers
 
-echo $seeds
+echo $manual_peers
 IP=$(test/p2p/ip.sh 1)
-curl --data-urlencode "seeds=[$seeds]" "$IP:46657/dial_seeds"
+curl --data-urlencode "manual_peers=[$manual_peers]" "$IP:46657/dial_manual_peers"
diff --git a/test/p2p/pex/test.sh b/test/p2p/pex/test.sh
index d54d81350..2c42781dd 100644
--- a/test/p2p/pex/test.sh
+++ b/test/p2p/pex/test.sh
@@ -11,5 +11,5 @@ cd $GOPATH/src/github.com/tendermint/tendermint
 echo "Test reconnecting from the address book"
 bash test/p2p/pex/test_addrbook.sh $DOCKER_IMAGE $NETWORK_NAME $N $PROXY_APP
 
-echo "Test connecting via /dial_seeds"
-bash test/p2p/pex/test_dial_seeds.sh $DOCKER_IMAGE $NETWORK_NAME $N $PROXY_APP
+echo "Test connecting via /dial_manual_peers"
+bash test/p2p/pex/test_dial_manual_peers.sh $DOCKER_IMAGE $NETWORK_NAME $N $PROXY_APP
diff --git a/test/p2p/pex/test_addrbook.sh b/test/p2p/pex/test_addrbook.sh
index 35dcb89d3..b215606d6 100644
--- a/test/p2p/pex/test_addrbook.sh
+++ b/test/p2p/pex/test_addrbook.sh
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ PROXY_APP=$4
 ID=1
 
 echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------"
-echo "Testing pex creates the addrbook and uses it if seeds are not provided"
+echo "Testing pex creates the addrbook and uses it if manual_peers are not provided"
 echo "(assuming peers are started with pex enabled)"
 
 CLIENT_NAME="pex_addrbook_$ID"
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ set +e #CIRCLE
 docker rm -vf "local_testnet_$ID"
 set -e
 
-# NOTE that we do not provide seeds
+# NOTE that we do not provide manual_peers
 bash test/p2p/peer.sh "$DOCKER_IMAGE" "$NETWORK_NAME" "$ID" "$PROXY_APP" "--p2p.pex --rpc.unsafe"
 docker cp "/tmp/addrbook.json" "local_testnet_$ID:/go/src/github.com/tendermint/tendermint/test/p2p/data/mach1/core/addrbook.json"
 echo "with the following addrbook:"
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ echo ""
 bash test/p2p/client.sh "$DOCKER_IMAGE" "$NETWORK_NAME" "$CLIENT_NAME" "test/p2p/pex/check_peer.sh $ID $N"
 
 echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------"
-echo "Testing other peers connect to us if we have neither seeds nor the addrbook"
+echo "Testing other peers connect to us if we have neither manual_peers nor the addrbook"
 echo "(assuming peers are started with pex enabled)"
 
 CLIENT_NAME="pex_no_addrbook_$ID"
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ set +e #CIRCLE
 docker rm -vf "local_testnet_$ID"
 set -e 
 
-# NOTE that we do not provide seeds
+# NOTE that we do not provide manual_peers
 bash test/p2p/peer.sh "$DOCKER_IMAGE" "$NETWORK_NAME" "$ID" "$PROXY_APP" "--p2p.pex --rpc.unsafe"
 
 # if the client runs forever, it means other peers have removed us from their books (which should not happen)
diff --git a/test/p2p/pex/test_dial_seeds.sh b/test/p2p/pex/test_dial_manual_peers.sh
similarity index 75%
rename from test/p2p/pex/test_dial_seeds.sh
rename to test/p2p/pex/test_dial_manual_peers.sh
index ea72004db..ba3e1c4d0 100644
--- a/test/p2p/pex/test_dial_seeds.sh
+++ b/test/p2p/pex/test_dial_manual_peers.sh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ ID=1
 cd $GOPATH/src/github.com/tendermint/tendermint
 
 echo "----------------------------------------------------------------------"
-echo "Testing full network connection using one /dial_seeds call"
+echo "Testing full network connection using one /dial_manual_peers call"
 echo "(assuming peers are started with pex enabled)"
 
 # stop the existing testnet and remove local network
@@ -21,16 +21,16 @@ set -e
 
 # start the testnet on a local network
 # NOTE we re-use the same network for all tests
-SEEDS=""
-bash test/p2p/local_testnet_start.sh $DOCKER_IMAGE $NETWORK_NAME $N $PROXY_APP $SEEDS
+MANUAL_PEERS=""
+bash test/p2p/local_testnet_start.sh $DOCKER_IMAGE $NETWORK_NAME $N $PROXY_APP $MANUAL_PEERS
 
 
 
-# dial seeds from one node
-CLIENT_NAME="dial_seeds"
-bash test/p2p/client.sh $DOCKER_IMAGE $NETWORK_NAME $CLIENT_NAME "test/p2p/pex/dial_seeds.sh $N"
+# dial manual_peers from one node
+CLIENT_NAME="dial_manual_peers"
+bash test/p2p/client.sh $DOCKER_IMAGE $NETWORK_NAME $CLIENT_NAME "test/p2p/pex/dial_manual_peers.sh $N"
 
 # test basic connectivity and consensus
 # start client container and check the num peers and height for all nodes
-CLIENT_NAME="dial_seeds_basic"
+CLIENT_NAME="dial_manual_peers_basic"
 bash test/p2p/client.sh $DOCKER_IMAGE $NETWORK_NAME $CLIENT_NAME "test/p2p/basic/test.sh $N"
diff --git a/test/p2p/seeds.sh b/test/p2p/seeds.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 4bf866cba..000000000
--- a/test/p2p/seeds.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-#! /bin/bash
-set -eu
-
-N=$1
-
-cd "$GOPATH/src/github.com/tendermint/tendermint"
-
-seeds="$(test/p2p/ip.sh 1):46656"
-for i in $(seq 2 $N); do
-	seeds="$seeds,$(test/p2p/ip.sh $i):46656"
-done
-echo "$seeds"
diff --git a/test/p2p/test.sh b/test/p2p/test.sh
index 6a5537b98..f348efe4a 100644
--- a/test/p2p/test.sh
+++ b/test/p2p/test.sh
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@ set +e
 bash test/p2p/local_testnet_stop.sh "$NETWORK_NAME" "$N"
 set -e
 
-SEEDS=$(bash test/p2p/seeds.sh $N)
+MANUAL_PEERS=$(bash test/p2p/manual_peers.sh $N)
 
 # start the testnet on a local network
 # NOTE we re-use the same network for all tests
-bash test/p2p/local_testnet_start.sh "$DOCKER_IMAGE" "$NETWORK_NAME" "$N" "$PROXY_APP" "$SEEDS"
+bash test/p2p/local_testnet_start.sh "$DOCKER_IMAGE" "$NETWORK_NAME" "$N" "$PROXY_APP" "$MANUAL_PEERS"
 
 # test basic connectivity and consensus
 # start client container and check the num peers and height for all nodes