diff --git a/data/lib/mailapi/pop3/sync.js b/data/lib/mailapi/pop3/sync.js
index 7b47fb38..876706aa 100644
--- a/data/lib/mailapi/pop3/sync.js
+++ b/data/lib/mailapi/pop3/sync.js
@@ -41,6 +41,13 @@ function lazyWithConnection(getNew, cbIndex, fn) {
     var args = Array.slice(arguments);
     require([], function () {
       var next = function() {
+        // Only the inbox actually needs a connection. Using the
+        // connection in a non-inbox folder is an error.
+        if (!this.isInbox) {
+          fn.apply(this, [null].concat(args));
+          return;
+        }
+
         this.account.withConnection(function (err, conn, done) {
           var callback = args[cbIndex];
           if (err) {
diff --git a/test/test-files.json b/test/test-files.json
index 75a97008..88f90d83 100644
--- a/test/test-files.json
+++ b/test/test-files.json
@@ -99,6 +99,10 @@
       "variants": ["pop3:fake"]
     },
 
+    "test_pop3_connection_use.js": {
+      "variants": ["pop3:fake"]
+    },
+
     "test_activesync_recreate.js": {
       "variants": ["activesync:fake"]
     },
diff --git a/test/unit/test_pop3_connection_use.js b/test/unit/test_pop3_connection_use.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..21daaec6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/test_pop3_connection_use.js
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/**
+ * Make sure POP3 only opens a connection for the inbox.
+ **/
+
+define(['rdcommon/testcontext', './resources/th_main',
+        'wbxml', 'activesync/codepages',
+        'exports'],
+       function($tc, $th_main, $wbxml, $ascp, exports) {
+
+var TD = exports.TD = $tc.defineTestsFor(
+  { id: 'test_pop3_connection_use' }, null,
+  [$th_main.TESTHELPER], ['app']);
+
+TD.commonCase('connection use', function(T, RT) {
+  T.group('setup');
+  var testUniverse = T.actor('testUniverse', 'U');
+  var testAccount = T.actor('testAccount', 'A', { universe: testUniverse });
+  var eSync = T.lazyLogger('sync');
+
+  var trashFolder = testAccount.do_useExistingFolderWithType('trash', '');
+  var inboxFolder = testAccount.do_useExistingFolderWithType('inbox', '');
+
+  T.action('close existing connection', function() {
+    testAccount.folderAccount._conn.disconnect();
+  });
+
+  // Trash must not create a connection.
+  testAccount.do_openFolderView(
+    'opens', trashFolder,
+    { count: 0, full: 0 },
+    { top: true, bottom: true, grow: false, newCount: null },
+    {
+      expectFunc: function() {
+        RT.reportActiveActorThisStep(testAccount.eFolderAccount);
+        testAccount.eFolderAccount.ignore_saveAccountState();
+      }
+    });
+
+  // Inbox must create a connection.
+  testAccount.do_openFolderView(
+    'opens', inboxFolder,
+    { count: 0, full: 0 },
+    { top: true, bottom: true, grow: false, newCount: null },
+    { syncedToDawnOfTime: true,
+      expectFunc: function() {
+        RT.reportActiveActorThisStep(testAccount.eFolderAccount);
+        testAccount.eFolderAccount.expect_createConnection();
+        testAccount.eFolderAccount.ignore_saveAccountState();
+      }
+    });
+
+
+  T.group('cleanup');
+});
+
+}); // end define