diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py b/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
index 99a2dfa5..7f95549b 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/collective/manager.py
@@ -37,21 +37,9 @@ def connect_to_leader(cert=None, name=None, leader=None):
     if leader is None:
         leader = currentleader
     try:
-        remote = socket.create_connection((leader, 13001))
+        remote = connect_to_collective(cert, leader)
     except socket.error:
         return
-    # TLS cert validation is custom and will not pass normal CA vetting
-    # to override completely in the right place requires enormous effort, so just defer until after connect
-    remote = ssl.wrap_socket(remote, cert_reqs=ssl.CERT_NONE, keyfile='/etc/confluent/privkey.pem',
-                             certfile='/etc/confluent/srvcert.pem')
-    if cert:
-        fprint = util.get_fingerprint(cert)
-    else:
-        collent = cfm.get_collective_member_by_address(leader)
-        fprint = collent['fingerprint']
-    if not util.cert_matches(fprint, remote.getpeercert(binary_form=True)):
-        # probably Janeway up to something
-        raise Exception("Certificate mismatch in the collective")
     tlvdata.recv(remote)  # the banner
     tlvdata.recv(remote)  # authpassed... 0..
     if name is None:
@@ -92,6 +80,24 @@ def connect_to_leader(cert=None, name=None, leader=None):
     # The leader has folded, time to startup again...
     eventlet.spawn_n(start_collective)
 
+
+def connect_to_collective(cert, member):
+    remote = socket.create_connection((member, 13001))
+    # TLS cert validation is custom and will not pass normal CA vetting
+    # to override completely in the right place requires enormous effort, so just defer until after connect
+    remote = ssl.wrap_socket(remote, cert_reqs=ssl.CERT_NONE, keyfile='/etc/confluent/privkey.pem',
+                             certfile='/etc/confluent/srvcert.pem')
+    if cert:
+        fprint = util.get_fingerprint(cert)
+    else:
+        collent = cfm.get_collective_member_by_address(member)
+        fprint = collent['fingerprint']
+    if not util.cert_matches(fprint, remote.getpeercert(binary_form=True)):
+        # probably Janeway up to something
+        raise Exception("Certificate mismatch in the collective")
+    return remote
+
+
 def get_myname():
     try:
         with open('/etc/confluent/cfg/myname', 'r') as f:
@@ -226,7 +232,11 @@ def handle_connection(connection, cert, request, local=False):
         # He needs to bootstrap his configuration and subscribe it to updates
 
 def try_assimilate(drone):
-    pass
+    remote = connect_to_collective(None, drone)
+    tlvdata.send(remote, {'operation': 'assimilate', 'name': get_myname(), 'txcount': cfm._txcount})
+    answer = tlvdata.recv(remote)
+    if 'error' in answer:
+        connect_to_leader(None, None, leader=remote.getpeername()[0])
 
 def get_leader(connection):
     if currentleader is None or connection.getpeername()[0] == currentleader: