diff --git a/src/detail/face-impl.hpp b/src/detail/face-impl.hpp
index bcb290f..7c259aa 100644
--- a/src/detail/face-impl.hpp
+++ b/src/detail/face-impl.hpp
@@ -103,6 +103,10 @@
   asyncExpressInterest(const shared_ptr<const Interest>& interest,
                        const OnData& onData, const OnTimeout& onTimeout)
   {
+    if (!m_face.m_transport->isConnected())
+      m_face.m_transport->connect(*m_face.m_ioService,
+                                  bind(&Face::onReceiveElement, &m_face, _1));
+
     if (!m_face.m_transport->isExpectingData())
       m_face.m_transport->resume();