diff --git a/lib/net/peer.js b/lib/net/peer.js
index 2e12a402..8ae197bf 100644
--- a/lib/net/peer.js
+++ b/lib/net/peer.js
@@ -1566,6 +1566,18 @@ Peer.prototype.handleVersion = co(function* handleVersion(version) {
     throw new Error('Peer does not support required protocol version.');
   }
 
+  if (this.options.witness) {
+    this.haveWitness = version.hasWitness();
+    if (!this.haveWitness && this.network.oldWitness) {
+      try {
+        yield this.request('havewitness');
+        this.haveWitness = true;
+      } catch (err) {
+        ;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   if (this.outbound) {
     if (!version.hasNetwork()) {
       this.ignore();
@@ -1587,22 +1599,9 @@ Peer.prototype.handleVersion = co(function* handleVersion(version) {
     }
 
     if (this.options.witness) {
-      this.haveWitness = version.hasWitness();
-
       if (!this.haveWitness) {
-        if (!this.network.oldWitness) {
-          this.ignore();
-          throw new Error('Peer does not support segregated witness.');
-        }
-
-        try {
-          yield this.request('havewitness');
-        } catch (err) {
-          this.ignore();
-          throw new Error('Peer does not support segregated witness.');
-        }
-
-        this.haveWitness = true;
+        this.ignore();
+        throw new Error('Peer does not support segregated witness.');
       }
     }
   }