diff --git a/riakcached/client.py b/riakcached/client.py
index 040813b..49479e1 100644
--- a/riakcached/client.py
+++ b/riakcached/client.py
@@ -21,13 +21,12 @@ class RiakClient(object):
         "url",
     ]
 
-    def __init__(self, bucket, url="http://127.0.0.1:8098", timeout=2):
+    def __init__(self, bucket, url="http://127.0.0.1:8098", timeout=2, auto_connect=True):
         """
         """
         self.bucket = bucket
         self.url = url.strip("/")
         self._timeout = timeout
-        self._connect()
         self._serializers = {
             "application/json": json.dumps,
         }
@@ -35,6 +34,9 @@ class RiakClient(object):
             "application/json": json.loads,
         }
 
+        if auto_connect:
+            self._connect()
+
     def setup_serializer(self, content_type, serializer, deserializer):
         """
         """