diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 38b9af2..b16b4c9 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -324,7 +324,10 @@ export default class DHTCache extends EventEmitter {
         return;
       }
 
-      this._addEntityConnection(id, bufId as Buffer);
+      this.addPeerHandler({
+        remotePublicKey: id,
+      });
+
       this._setEntity(bufId as Buffer, { heartbeat: Date.now() });
 
       this.log.debug(`Heartbeat received from ${bufId.toString("hex")}`);