diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6e061dc..a11df23 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ A user-friendly IRC bouncer.
     go run ./cmd/jouncectl create-user jounce
     go run ./cmd/jounce
 
+Then connect with username `jounce@chat.freenode.net` and join `#jounce`.
+
 ## Contributing
 
 Send patches on the [mailing list], report bugs on the [issue tracker].
diff --git a/downstream.go b/downstream.go
index dc0ec90..e4fd70a 100644
--- a/downstream.go
+++ b/downstream.go
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 package jounce
 
 import (
+	"crypto/tls"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/bcrypt"
 	"gopkg.in/irc.v3"
@@ -336,6 +338,15 @@ func (dc *downstreamConn) handleMessageUnregistered(msg *irc.Message) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func sanityCheckServer(addr string) error {
+	dialer := net.Dialer{Timeout: 30 * time.Second}
+	conn, err := tls.DialWithDialer(&dialer, "tcp", addr, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return conn.Close()
+}
+
 func (dc *downstreamConn) register() error {
 	username := strings.TrimPrefix(dc.username, "~")
 	var networkName string
@@ -365,13 +376,25 @@ func (dc *downstreamConn) register() error {
 	if networkName != "" {
 		network = u.getNetwork(networkName)
 		if network == nil {
-			dc.logger.Printf("failed registration: unknown network %q", networkName)
-			dc.SendMessage(&irc.Message{
-				Prefix:  dc.srv.prefix(),
-				Command: irc.ERR_PASSWDMISMATCH,
-				Params:  []string{"*", fmt.Sprintf("Unknown network %q", networkName)},
-			})
-			return nil
+			addr := networkName
+			if !strings.ContainsRune(addr, ':') {
+				addr = addr + ":6697"
+			}
+
+			dc.logger.Printf("trying to connect to new upstream server %q", addr)
+			if err := sanityCheckServer(addr); err != nil {
+				dc.logger.Printf("failed to connect to %q: %v", addr, err)
+				return ircError{&irc.Message{
+					Command: irc.ERR_PASSWDMISMATCH,
+					Params:  []string{"*", fmt.Sprintf("Failed to connect to %q", networkName)},
+				}}
+			}
+
+			dc.logger.Printf("auto-adding network %q", networkName)
+			network, err = u.createNetwork(networkName, dc.nick)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index bc390d9..4004c19 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -163,6 +163,22 @@ func (u *user) run() {
 	u.lock.Unlock()
 }
 
+func (u *user) createNetwork(addr, nick string) (*network, error) {
+	network := newNetwork(u, &Network{
+		Addr: addr,
+		Nick: nick,
+	})
+	err := u.srv.db.StoreNetwork(u.Username, &network.Network)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	u.lock.Lock()
+	u.networks = append(u.networks, network)
+	u.lock.Unlock()
+	go network.run()
+	return network, nil
+}
+
 type Server struct {
 	Hostname string
 	Logger   Logger