diff --git a/QMP/qmp.py b/QMP/qmp.py
index 36ecc1dfae..5a573e1488 100644
--- a/QMP/qmp.py
+++ b/QMP/qmp.py
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ def __get_sock(self):
         return socket.socket(family, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
 
     def __negotiate_capabilities(self):
-        self.__sockfile = self.__sock.makefile()
         greeting = self.__json_read()
         if greeting is None or not greeting.has_key('QMP'):
             raise QMPConnectError
@@ -73,7 +72,7 @@ def __json_read(self, only_event=False):
 
     error = socket.error
 
-    def connect(self):
+    def connect(self, negotiate=True):
         """
         Connect to the QMP Monitor and perform capabilities negotiation.
 
@@ -83,7 +82,9 @@ def connect(self):
         @raise QMPCapabilitiesError if fails to negotiate capabilities
         """
         self.__sock.connect(self.__address)
-        return self.__negotiate_capabilities()
+        self.__sockfile = self.__sock.makefile()
+        if negotiate:
+            return self.__negotiate_capabilities()
 
     def accept(self):
         """