diff --git a/src/iroh.rs b/src/iroh.rs
index 0ce9c2d..21217f3 100644
--- a/src/iroh.rs
+++ b/src/iroh.rs
@@ -418,28 +418,31 @@ impl NodeHost {
     }
 
     async fn connect_to_peer(&self, peer_address: EndpointAddr) -> anyhow::Result<Connection> {
-        let connection = tokio::time::timeout(
-            CONTROL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            self.endpoint.connect(peer_address.clone(), APPA_ALPN),
-        )
-        .await
-        .map_err(|_| anyhow::anyhow!("Appa peer connection timed out"))??;
-        verify_connected_peer(&connection, &peer_address)?;
-        Ok(connection)
+        self.connect_with_alpn(peer_address, APPA_ALPN, "Appa peer")
+            .await
     }
 
     async fn connect_to_blob_provider(
         &self,
         provider_address: EndpointAddr,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<Connection> {
+        self.connect_with_alpn(provider_address, iroh_blobs::ALPN, "Appa blob provider")
+            .await
+    }
+
+    async fn connect_with_alpn(
+        &self,
+        peer_address: EndpointAddr,
+        alpn: &[u8],
+        connection_name: &str,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<Connection> {
         let connection = tokio::time::timeout(
             CONTROL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            self.endpoint
-                .connect(provider_address.clone(), iroh_blobs::ALPN),
+            self.endpoint.connect(peer_address.clone(), alpn),
         )
         .await
-        .map_err(|_| anyhow::anyhow!("Appa blob provider connection timed out"))??;
-        verify_connected_peer(&connection, &provider_address)?;
+        .map_err(|_| anyhow::anyhow!("{connection_name} connection timed out"))??;
+        verify_connected_peer(&connection, &peer_address)?;
         Ok(connection)
     }