diff --git a/src/tox-weechat-tox.c b/src/tox-weechat-tox.c
index 04bf6f3..4dd370c 100644
--- a/src/tox-weechat-tox.c
+++ b/src/tox-weechat-tox.c
@@ -210,6 +210,14 @@ tox_weechat_status_message_callback(Tox *tox,
                            tox_weechat_chat_refresh_timer_callback, chat);
 }
 
+void
+tox_weechat_bootstrap(char *address, uint16_t port, char *public_key)
+{
+    uint8_t *binary_key = tox_weechat_hex2bin(public_key);
+    tox_bootstrap_from_address(tox, address, htons(port), binary_key);
+    free(binary_key);
+}
+
 void
 tox_weechat_tox_init()
 {
@@ -224,10 +232,8 @@ tox_weechat_tox_init()
     }
     free(data_file_path);
 
-    // bootstrap
-    uint8_t *pub_key = tox_weechat_hex2bin(BOOTSTRAP_KEY);
-    tox_bootstrap_from_address(tox, BOOTSTRAP_ADDRESS, htons(BOOTSTRAP_PORT), pub_key);
-    free(pub_key);
+    // bootstrap DHT
+    tox_weechat_bootstrap(BOOTSTRAP_ADDRESS, BOOTSTRAP_PORT, BOOTSTRAP_KEY);
 
     // start tox_do loop
     tox_weechat_do_timer_cb(NULL, 0);
diff --git a/src/tox-weechat-tox.h b/src/tox-weechat-tox.h
index bff95e4..45255ac 100644
--- a/src/tox-weechat-tox.h
+++ b/src/tox-weechat-tox.h
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@
  */
 void tox_weechat_tox_init();
 
+/**
+ * Bootstrap DHT using an inet address, port and a Tox address.
+ */
+void tox_weechat_bootstrap(char *address, uint16_t port, char *public_key);
+
 /**
  * Dump Tox to file and de-initialize.
  */