diff --git a/src/game_initialization/multiplayer.cpp b/src/game_initialization/multiplayer.cpp
index a11359b195685..884be912331af 100644
--- a/src/game_initialization/multiplayer.cpp
+++ b/src/game_initialization/multiplayer.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 #include "gettext.hpp"
 #include "gui/dialogs/message.hpp"
 #include "gui/dialogs/multiplayer/lobby.hpp"
-#include "gui/dialogs/multiplayer/mp_connect.hpp"
 #include "gui/dialogs/multiplayer/mp_create_game.hpp"
 #include "gui/dialogs/multiplayer/mp_join_game.hpp"
 #include "gui/dialogs/multiplayer/mp_login.hpp"
@@ -48,34 +47,24 @@ static lg::log_domain log_mp("mp/main");
 #define DBG_MP LOG_STREAM(debug, log_mp)
 
 /** Opens a new server connection and prompts the client for login credentials, if necessary. */
-static wesnothd_connection_ptr open_connection(CVideo& video, const std::string& original_host)
+static wesnothd_connection_ptr open_connection(CVideo& video, std::string host)
 {
 	DBG_MP << "opening connection" << std::endl;
 
-	std::string h = original_host;
-	if(h.empty()) {
-		gui2::dialogs::mp_connect dlg;
-		dlg.show(video);
-
-		if(dlg.get_retval() != gui2::window::OK) {
-			return wesnothd_connection_ptr();
-		}
+	wesnothd_connection_ptr sock;
 
-		h = preferences::network_host();
+	if(host.empty()) {
+		return sock;
 	}
 
-	wesnothd_connection_ptr sock;
-
-	const int colon_index = h.find_first_of(":");
-	std::string host;
+	const int colon_index = host.find_first_of(":");
 	unsigned int port;
 
 	if(colon_index == -1) {
-		host = h;
 		port = 15000;
 	} else {
-		host = h.substr(0, colon_index);
-		port = lexical_cast_default<unsigned int>(h.substr(colon_index + 1), 15000);
+		port = lexical_cast_default<unsigned int>(host.substr(colon_index + 1), 15000);
+		host = host.substr(0, colon_index);
 	}
 
 	// shown_hosts is used to prevent the client being locked in a redirect loop.
@@ -315,10 +304,6 @@ static wesnothd_connection_ptr open_connection(CVideo& video, const std::string&
 		} // end login loop
 	} while(!(data.child("join_lobby") || data.child("join_game")));
 
-	if(h != preferences::server_list().front().address) {
-		preferences::set_network_host(h);
-	}
-
 	if(data.child("join_lobby")) {
 		return sock;
 	}
diff --git a/src/game_launcher.cpp b/src/game_launcher.cpp
index 14c543ce65d32..7f33570a3a627 100644
--- a/src/game_launcher.cpp
+++ b/src/game_launcher.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "gui/dialogs/language_selection.hpp"  // for language_selection
 #include "gui/dialogs/loading_screen.hpp"
 #include "gui/dialogs/message.hpp" //for show error message
+#include "gui/dialogs/multiplayer/mp_connect.hpp"
 #include "gui/dialogs/multiplayer/mp_host_game_prompt.hpp" //for host game prompt
 #include "gui/dialogs/multiplayer/mp_method_selection.hpp"
 #include "gui/dialogs/outro.hpp"
@@ -826,6 +827,21 @@ bool game_launcher::play_multiplayer(mp_selection res)
 
 
 		}
+
+		// If a server address wasn't specified, prompt for it now.
+		if(multiplayer_server_.empty()) {
+			if(!gui2::dialogs::mp_connect::execute(CVideo::get_singleton())) {
+				return false;
+			}
+
+			// The prompt saves its input to preferences.
+			multiplayer_server_ = preferences::network_host();
+
+			if(multiplayer_server_ != preferences::server_list().front().address) {
+				preferences::set_network_host(multiplayer_server_);
+			}
+		}
+
 		//create_engine already calls game_config_manager::get()->load_config but maybe its better to have MULTIPLAYER defined while we are in the lobby.
 		game_config_manager::get()->load_game_config_for_create(true);
 
diff --git a/src/gui/dialogs/multiplayer/mp_connect.hpp b/src/gui/dialogs/multiplayer/mp_connect.hpp
index fc349bbc7066b..cc52f69046e1d 100644
--- a/src/gui/dialogs/multiplayer/mp_connect.hpp
+++ b/src/gui/dialogs/multiplayer/mp_connect.hpp
@@ -29,6 +29,12 @@ class mp_connect : public modal_dialog
 public:
 	mp_connect();
 
+	/** The execute function. See @ref modal_dialog for more information. */
+	static bool execute(CVideo& video)
+	{
+		return mp_connect().show(video);
+	}
+
 private:
 	/** Inherited from modal_dialog, implemented by REGISTER_DIALOG. */
 	virtual const std::string& window_id() const override;