diff --git a/include/proto/stream_sock.h b/include/proto/stream_sock.h
index d0d172f19..e5d4f517a 100644
--- a/include/proto/stream_sock.h
+++ b/include/proto/stream_sock.h
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ void stream_sock_shutr(struct stream_interface *si);
 void stream_sock_shutw(struct stream_interface *si);
 void stream_sock_chk_rcv(struct stream_interface *si);
 void stream_sock_chk_snd(struct stream_interface *si);
+void stream_sock_prepare_interface(struct stream_interface *si);
 
 
 /* This either returns the sockname or the original destination address. Code
diff --git a/src/backend.c b/src/backend.c
index 0e9987962..1fc6b2aaa 100644
--- a/src/backend.c
+++ b/src/backend.c
@@ -35,9 +35,11 @@
 #include <proto/lb_fwrr.h>
 #include <proto/lb_map.h>
 #include <proto/proto_http.h>
+#include <proto/proto_tcp.h>
 #include <proto/queue.h>
 #include <proto/server.h>
 #include <proto/session.h>
+#include <proto/stream_sock.h>
 #include <proto/task.h>
 
 /*
@@ -902,8 +904,11 @@ int connect_server(struct session *s)
 			return SN_ERR_INTERNAL;
 	}
 
-	if (!s->req->cons->connect)
-		return SN_ERR_INTERNAL;
+	/* Prepare the stream interface for a TCP connection. Later
+	 * we may assign a protocol-specific connect() function.
+	 */
+	stream_sock_prepare_interface(s->req->cons);
+	s->req->cons->connect = tcpv4_connect_server;
 
 	assign_tproxy_address(s);
 
diff --git a/src/stream_sock.c b/src/stream_sock.c
index 171ed294c..915979695 100644
--- a/src/stream_sock.c
+++ b/src/stream_sock.c
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /*
  * Functions operating on SOCK_STREAM and buffers.
  *
- * Copyright 2000-2009 Willy Tarreau <w@1wt.eu>
+ * Copyright 2000-2010 Willy Tarreau <w@1wt.eu>
  *
  * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
  * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
@@ -1221,6 +1221,17 @@ int stream_sock_accept(int fd)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/* Prepare a stream interface to be used in socket mode. */
+void stream_sock_prepare_interface(struct stream_interface *si)
+{
+	si->update = stream_sock_data_finish;
+	si->shutr = stream_sock_shutr;
+	si->shutw = stream_sock_shutw;
+	si->chk_rcv = stream_sock_chk_rcv;
+	si->chk_snd = stream_sock_chk_snd;
+	si->iohandler = NULL;
+}
+
 
 /*
  * Local variables: