diff --git a/openmdao/core/group.py b/openmdao/core/group.py
index b299bccde5..e561ad2634 100644
--- a/openmdao/core/group.py
+++ b/openmdao/core/group.py
@@ -287,7 +287,11 @@ def _configure(self):
             if subsys.matrix_free:
                 self.matrix_free = True
 
-        self.configure()
+        self._static_mode = False
+        try:
+            self.configure()
+        finally:
+            self._static_mode = True
 
     def _setup_procs(self, pathname, comm, mode, prob_options):
         """
diff --git a/openmdao/core/tests/test_connections_in_configure.py b/openmdao/core/tests/test_connections_in_configure.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6ac3b6ab3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openmdao/core/tests/test_connections_in_configure.py
@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+"""
+A contrived example for issuing connections during configure rather than setup.
+"""
+import itertools
+import unittest
+from six import iteritems
+import openmdao.api as om
+from openmdao.utils.assert_utils import assert_rel_error
+
+
+class Squarer(om.ExplicitComponent):
+
+    def initialize(self):
+        self._vars = {}
+
+    def add_var(self, name, units='m'):
+        """
+        Add a variable to be squared by the component.
+        """
+        self._vars[name] = {'units': units}
+
+    def setup(self):
+        for var, options in iteritems(self._vars):
+
+            self.add_input(var,
+                           units=options['units'])
+
+            self.add_output('{0}_squared'.format(var),
+                            units='{0}**2'.format(options['units']))
+
+            self.declare_partials(of='{0}_squared'.format(var),
+                                  wrt=var,
+                                  method='cs')
+
+    def compute(self, inputs, outputs, discrete_inputs=None, discrete_outputs=None):
+        for var in self._vars:
+            outputs['{0}_squared'.format(var)] = inputs[var] ** 2
+
+
+class Cuber(om.ExplicitComponent):
+
+    def initialize(self):
+        self.options.declare('vec_size', types=(int,))
+        self._vars = {}
+
+    def add_var(self, name, units='m'):
+        """
+        Add a variable to be squared by the component.
+        """
+        self._vars[name] = {'units': units}
+
+    def setup(self):
+        for var, options in iteritems(self._vars):
+            self.add_input(var, units=options['units'])
+
+            self.add_output('{0}_cubed'.format(var), units='{0}**3'.format(options['units']))
+
+            self.declare_partials(of='{0}_cubed'.format(var),
+                                  wrt=var,
+                                  method='cs')
+
+    def compute(self, inputs, outputs, discrete_inputs=None, discrete_outputs=None):
+        for var in self._vars:
+            outputs['{0}_cubed'.format(var)] = inputs[var] ** 3
+
+
+class HostConnectInSetup(om.Group):
+
+    def initialize(self):
+        self._operations = {}
+
+    def add_operation(self, name, subsys, vars):
+        self._operations[name] = {}
+        self._operations[name]['subsys'] = subsys
+        self._operations[name]['vars'] = vars
+
+    def setup(self):
+        ivc = self.add_subsystem('ivc', om.IndepVarComp(), promotes_outputs=['*'])
+
+        all_vars = set(itertools.chain(*[self._operations[name]['vars'] for name in self._operations]))
+
+        for var in all_vars:
+            ivc.add_output(var, shape=(1,), units='m')
+
+        for name, options in iteritems(self._operations):
+            for var in options['vars']:
+                options['subsys'].add_var(var)
+                self.connect(var, '{0}.{1}'.format(name, var))
+            self.add_subsystem(name, options['subsys'])
+
+
+class HostConnectInConfigure(om.Group):
+
+    def initialize(self):
+        self._operations = {}
+
+    def add_operation(self, name, subsys, vars):
+        self._operations[name] = {}
+        self._operations[name]['subsys'] = subsys
+        self._operations[name]['vars'] = vars
+
+    def setup(self):
+        ivc = self.add_subsystem('ivc', om.IndepVarComp(), promotes_outputs=['*'])
+        all_vars = set(itertools.chain(*[self._operations[name]['vars'] for name in self._operations]))
+
+        for var in all_vars:
+            ivc.add_output(var, shape=(1,), units='m')
+
+        for name, options in iteritems(self._operations):
+            for var in options['vars']:
+                options['subsys'].add_var(var)
+            self.add_subsystem(name, options['subsys'])
+
+    def configure(self):
+        for name, options in iteritems(self._operations):
+            for var in options['vars']:
+                print('connecting {0} to {1}.{0}'.format(var, name))
+                self.connect(var, '{0}.{1}'.format(name, var))
+
+
+class TestConnectionsInSetup(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_connect_in_setup(self):
+
+        p = om.Problem(model=om.Group())
+
+        h = HostConnectInSetup()
+
+        h.add_operation('squarer', Squarer(), ['a', 'b', 'c'])
+        h.add_operation('cuber', Cuber(), ['a', 'b', 'x', 'y'])
+
+        p.model.add_subsystem('h', h)
+
+        p.setup()
+
+        p['h.a'] = 3
+        p['h.b'] = 4
+        p['h.c'] = 5
+        p['h.x'] = 6
+        p['h.y'] = 7
+
+        p.run_model()
+
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.squarer.a_squared'], p['h.a'] ** 2)
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.squarer.b_squared'], p['h.b'] ** 2)
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.squarer.c_squared'], p['h.c'] ** 2)
+
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.cuber.a_cubed'], p['h.a'] ** 3)
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.cuber.b_cubed'], p['h.b'] ** 3)
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.cuber.x_cubed'], p['h.x'] ** 3)
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.cuber.y_cubed'], p['h.y'] ** 3)
+
+    def test_connect_in_configure(self):
+
+        p = om.Problem(model=om.Group())
+
+        h = HostConnectInConfigure()
+
+        h.add_operation('squarer', Squarer(), ['a', 'b', 'c'])
+        h.add_operation('cuber', Cuber(), ['a', 'b', 'x', 'y'])
+
+        p.model.add_subsystem('h', h)
+
+        p.setup()
+
+        p['h.a'] = 3
+        p['h.b'] = 4
+        p['h.c'] = 5
+        p['h.x'] = 6
+        p['h.y'] = 7
+
+        p.run_model()
+
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.squarer.a_squared'], p['h.a'] ** 2)
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.squarer.b_squared'], p['h.b'] ** 2)
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.squarer.c_squared'], p['h.c'] ** 2)
+
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.cuber.a_cubed'], p['h.a'] ** 3)
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.cuber.b_cubed'], p['h.b'] ** 3)
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.cuber.x_cubed'], p['h.x'] ** 3)
+        assert_rel_error(self, p['h.cuber.y_cubed'], p['h.y'] ** 3)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/openmdao/docs/theory_manual/setup_stack.rst b/openmdao/docs/theory_manual/setup_stack.rst
index dcf724e012..7d3513b7dc 100644
--- a/openmdao/docs/theory_manual/setup_stack.rst
+++ b/openmdao/docs/theory_manual/setup_stack.rst
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ recursively from the bottom of the hierarchy to the top, so that at any level, y
 take precedence over those in lower-level ones. Top precedence is given to changes made after calling `setup`
 on the `Problem`.
 
+A second use case for `configure` is issuing connections to subsystems when you need information (e.g. path names)
+that has been set during setup of those subsystems.  Since `configure` runs after `setup` has been
+called on all subsystems, you can be sure that this information will be available.
+
 Here is a quick guide covering what you can do in the `setup` and `configure` methods.
 
 **setup**
@@ -79,6 +83,7 @@ Here is a quick guide covering what you can do in the `setup` and `configure` me
 
 **configure**
 
+ - Issue connections
  - Assign linear and nonlinear solvers to subsystems
  - Change solver settings in subsystems
  - Assign Jacobians to subsystems