diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 2d9cff3..26cac0d 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ export default class DHTCache extends EventEmitter {
       }
 
       if (!this.connectedTo.has(id)) {
-        this.swarm.joinPeer(id);
+        this.swarm.joinPeer(b4a.from(id, "hex"));
       }
 
       for (const connection of connectedTo) {