diff --git a/torba/__init__.py b/torba/__init__.py
index 2d20cabca..b3f7f9e86 100644
--- a/torba/__init__.py
+++ b/torba/__init__.py
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 __path__: str = __import__('pkgutil').extend_path(__path__, __name__)
-__version__ = '0.2.5'
+__version__ = '0.3.0'
diff --git a/torba/orchstr8/node.py b/torba/orchstr8/node.py
index bb6d16d1a..a75175222 100644
--- a/torba/orchstr8/node.py
+++ b/torba/orchstr8/node.py
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class WalletNode:
         self.data_path: Optional[str] = None
         self.port = port
 
-    async def start(self, spv_node: 'SPVNode', seed=None):
+    async def start(self, spv_node: 'SPVNode', seed=None, connect=True):
         self.data_path = tempfile.mkdtemp()
         wallet_file_name = os.path.join(self.data_path, 'my_wallet.json')
         with open(wallet_file_name, 'w') as wallet_file:
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ class WalletNode:
         else:
             raise ValueError('Wallet is required.')
         self.account = self.wallet.default_account
-        await self.manager.start()
+        if connect:
+            await self.manager.start()
 
     async def stop(self, cleanup=True):
         try: