diff --git a/parity/cli.rs b/parity/cli.rs
index 650c19f94..d3627fda2 100644
--- a/parity/cli.rs
+++ b/parity/cli.rs
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ Networking Options:
   --no-network             Disable p2p networking.
   --port PORT              Override the port on which the node should listen
                            [default: 30303].
-  --peers NUM              Try to maintain that many peers [default: 25].
+  --min-peers NUM          Try to maintain at least NUM peers [default: 25].
+  --max-peers NUM          Allow up to that many peers [default: 50].
   --nat METHOD             Specify method to use for determining public
                            address. Must be one of: any, none, upnp,
                            extip:<IP> [default: any].
@@ -238,7 +239,7 @@ Legacy Options:
                            Overrides the --keys-path option.
   --datadir PATH           Equivalent to --db-path PATH.
   --networkid INDEX        Equivalent to --network-id INDEX.
-  --maxpeers COUNT         Equivalent to --peers COUNT.
+  --peers NUM              Equivalent to --min-peers NUM.
   --nodekey KEY            Equivalent to --node-key KEY.
   --nodiscover             Equivalent to --no-discovery.
   -j --jsonrpc             Does nothing; JSON-RPC is on by default now.
@@ -302,7 +303,8 @@ pub struct Args {
 	pub flag_pruning: String,
 	pub flag_tracing: String,
 	pub flag_port: u16,
-	pub flag_peers: usize,
+	pub flag_min_peers: u16,
+	pub flag_max_peers: u16,
 	pub flag_no_discovery: bool,
 	pub flag_nat: String,
 	pub flag_node_key: Option<String>,
@@ -364,7 +366,7 @@ pub struct Args {
 	pub flag_geth: bool,
 	pub flag_nodekey: Option<String>,
 	pub flag_nodiscover: bool,
-	pub flag_maxpeers: Option<usize>,
+	pub flag_peers: Option<u16>,
 	pub flag_datadir: Option<String>,
 	pub flag_extradata: Option<String>,
 	pub flag_etherbase: Option<String>,
diff --git a/parity/configuration.rs b/parity/configuration.rs
index d366da2a6..81b3cb6c6 100644
--- a/parity/configuration.rs
+++ b/parity/configuration.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 use std::io::Read;
 use std::net::SocketAddr;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::cmp::max;
 use cli::{USAGE, Args};
 use docopt::{Docopt, Error as DocoptError};
 use util::{Hashable, NetworkConfiguration, U256, Uint, is_valid_node_url, Bytes, version_data, Secret, Address};
@@ -251,7 +252,12 @@ impl Configuration {
 	}
 
 	fn max_peers(&self) -> u32 {
-		self.args.flag_maxpeers.unwrap_or(self.args.flag_peers) as u32
+		let peers = self.args.flag_max_peers as u32;
+		max(self.min_peers(), peers)
+	}
+
+	fn min_peers(&self) -> u32 {
+		self.args.flag_peers.unwrap_or(self.args.flag_min_peers) as u32
 	}
 
 	fn work_notify(&self) -> Vec<String> {
@@ -386,7 +392,8 @@ impl Configuration {
 		ret.public_address = public;
 		ret.use_secret = self.args.flag_node_key.as_ref().map(|s| s.parse::<Secret>().unwrap_or_else(|_| s.sha3()));
 		ret.discovery_enabled = !self.args.flag_no_discovery && !self.args.flag_nodiscover;
-		ret.ideal_peers = self.max_peers();
+		ret.max_peers = self.max_peers();
+		ret.min_peers = self.min_peers();
 		let mut net_path = PathBuf::from(self.directories().db);
 		net_path.push("network");
 		ret.config_path = Some(net_path.to_str().unwrap().to_owned());
@@ -453,6 +460,7 @@ impl Configuration {
 			name: self.args.flag_identity.clone(),
 			chain: self.chain(),
 			max_peers: self.max_peers(),
+			min_peers: self.min_peers(),
 			network_port: self.args.flag_port,
 			rpc_enabled: !self.args.flag_jsonrpc_off && !self.args.flag_no_jsonrpc,
 			rpc_interface: self.args.flag_rpcaddr.clone().unwrap_or(self.args.flag_jsonrpc_interface.clone()),
@@ -700,7 +708,8 @@ mod tests {
 		assert_eq!(conf.network_settings(), NetworkSettings {
 			name: "testname".to_owned(),
 			chain: "morden".to_owned(),
-			max_peers: 25,
+			max_peers: 50,
+			min_peers: 25,
 			network_port: 30303,
 			rpc_enabled: true,
 			rpc_interface: "local".to_owned(),
diff --git a/parity/helpers.rs b/parity/helpers.rs
index b7b56df32..8e032f13c 100644
--- a/parity/helpers.rs
+++ b/parity/helpers.rs
@@ -178,7 +178,8 @@ pub fn default_network_config() -> ::util::NetworkConfiguration {
 		discovery_enabled: true,
 		boot_nodes: Vec::new(),
 		use_secret: None,
-		ideal_peers: 25,
+		max_peers: 50,
+		min_peers: 25,
 		reserved_nodes: Vec::new(),
 		non_reserved_mode: NonReservedPeerMode::Accept,
 	}
diff --git a/parity/informant.rs b/parity/informant.rs
index 429c8e28e..fed1c46d1 100644
--- a/parity/informant.rs
+++ b/parity/informant.rs
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ impl Informant {
 					},
 					paint(Cyan.bold(), format!("{:2}", sync_info.num_active_peers)),
 					paint(Cyan.bold(), format!("{:2}", sync_info.num_peers)),
-					paint(Cyan.bold(), format!("{:2}", net_config.ideal_peers))
+					paint(Cyan.bold(), format!("{:2}", if sync_info.num_peers as u32 > net_config.min_peers { net_config.max_peers} else { net_config.min_peers} ))
 				),
 				_ => String::new(),
 			},
diff --git a/rpc/src/v1/tests/mocked/ethcore.rs b/rpc/src/v1/tests/mocked/ethcore.rs
index 5b88e8756..73875d131 100644
--- a/rpc/src/v1/tests/mocked/ethcore.rs
+++ b/rpc/src/v1/tests/mocked/ethcore.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ fn settings() -> Arc<NetworkSettings> {
 	Arc::new(NetworkSettings {
 		name: "mynode".to_owned(),
 		chain: "testchain".to_owned(),
+		min_peers: 25,
 		max_peers: 25,
 		network_port: 30303,
 		rpc_enabled: true,
diff --git a/sync/src/api.rs b/sync/src/api.rs
index 1d41b97aa..5c0e028e3 100644
--- a/sync/src/api.rs
+++ b/sync/src/api.rs
@@ -232,8 +232,10 @@ pub struct NetworkConfiguration {
 	pub boot_nodes: Vec<String>,
 	/// Use provided node key instead of default
 	pub use_secret: Option<Secret>,
-	/// Number of connected peers to maintain
-	pub ideal_peers: u32,
+	/// Max number of connected peers to maintain
+	pub max_peers: u32,
+	/// Min number of connected peers to maintain
+	pub min_peers: u32,
 	/// List of reserved node addresses.
 	pub reserved_nodes: Vec<String>,
 	/// The non-reserved peer mode.
@@ -253,7 +255,8 @@ impl NetworkConfiguration {
 			discovery_enabled: self.discovery_enabled,
 			boot_nodes: self.boot_nodes,
 			use_secret: self.use_secret,
-			ideal_peers: self.ideal_peers,
+			max_peers: self.max_peers,
+			min_peers: self.min_peers,
 			reserved_nodes: self.reserved_nodes,
 			non_reserved_mode: if self.allow_non_reserved { NonReservedPeerMode::Accept } else { NonReservedPeerMode::Deny },
 		})
@@ -271,7 +274,8 @@ impl From<BasicNetworkConfiguration> for NetworkConfiguration {
 			discovery_enabled: other.discovery_enabled,
 			boot_nodes: other.boot_nodes,
 			use_secret: other.use_secret,
-			ideal_peers: other.ideal_peers,
+			max_peers: other.max_peers,
+			min_peers: other.min_peers,
 			reserved_nodes: other.reserved_nodes,
 			allow_non_reserved: match other.non_reserved_mode { NonReservedPeerMode::Accept => true, _ => false } ,
 		}
diff --git a/util/src/network/host.rs b/util/src/network/host.rs
index bcad97cfe..7b1baf97a 100644
--- a/util/src/network/host.rs
+++ b/util/src/network/host.rs
@@ -70,8 +70,10 @@ pub struct NetworkConfiguration {
 	pub boot_nodes: Vec<String>,
 	/// Use provided node key instead of default
 	pub use_secret: Option<Secret>,
-	/// Number of connected peers to maintain
-	pub ideal_peers: u32,
+	/// Minimum number of connected peers to maintain
+	pub min_peers: u32,
+	/// Maximum allowd number of peers
+	pub max_peers: u32,
 	/// List of reserved node addresses.
 	pub reserved_nodes: Vec<String>,
 	/// The non-reserved peer mode.
@@ -96,7 +98,8 @@ impl NetworkConfiguration {
 			discovery_enabled: true,
 			boot_nodes: Vec::new(),
 			use_secret: None,
-			ideal_peers: 25,
+			min_peers: 25,
+			max_peers: 50,
 			reserved_nodes: Vec::new(),
 			non_reserved_mode: NonReservedPeerMode::Accept,
 		}
@@ -597,19 +600,19 @@ impl Host {
 	}
 
 	fn connect_peers(&self, io: &IoContext<NetworkIoMessage>) {
-		let (ideal_peers, mut pin) = {
+		let (min_peers, mut pin) = {
 			let info = self.info.read();
 			if info.capabilities.is_empty() {
 				return;
 			}
 			let config = &info.config;
 
-			(config.ideal_peers, config.non_reserved_mode == NonReservedPeerMode::Deny)
+			(config.min_peers, config.non_reserved_mode == NonReservedPeerMode::Deny)
 		};
 
 		let session_count = self.session_count();
 		let reserved_nodes = self.reserved_nodes.read();
-		if session_count >= ideal_peers as usize + reserved_nodes.len() {
+		if session_count >= min_peers as usize + reserved_nodes.len() {
 			// check if all pinned nodes are connected.
 			if reserved_nodes.iter().all(|n| self.have_session(n) && self.connecting_to(n)) {
 				return;
@@ -767,12 +770,12 @@ impl Host {
 						self.num_sessions.fetch_add(1, AtomicOrdering::SeqCst);
 						if !s.info.originated {
 							let session_count = self.session_count();
-							let (ideal_peers, reserved_only) = {
+							let (max_peers, reserved_only) = {
 								let info = self.info.read();
-								(info.config.ideal_peers, info.config.non_reserved_mode == NonReservedPeerMode::Deny)
+								(info.config.max_peers, info.config.non_reserved_mode == NonReservedPeerMode::Deny)
 							};
 
-							if session_count >= ideal_peers as usize || reserved_only {
+							if session_count >= max_peers as usize || reserved_only {
 								// only proceed if the connecting peer is reserved.
 								if !self.reserved_nodes.read().contains(s.id().unwrap()) {
 									s.disconnect(io, DisconnectReason::TooManyPeers);
diff --git a/util/src/network_settings.rs b/util/src/network_settings.rs
index 7f0b18f22..9e590c5e7 100644
--- a/util/src/network_settings.rs
+++ b/util/src/network_settings.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ pub struct NetworkSettings {
 	pub name: String,
 	/// Name of the chain we are connected to
 	pub chain: String,
-	/// Ideal number of peers
+	/// Min number of peers
+	pub min_peers: u32,
+	/// Max number of peers
 	pub max_peers: u32,
 	/// Networking port
 	pub network_port: u16,
@@ -39,7 +41,8 @@ impl Default for NetworkSettings {
 		NetworkSettings {
 			name: "".into(),
 			chain: "homestead".into(),
-			max_peers: 25,
+			min_peers: 25,
+			max_peers: 50,
 			network_port: 30303,
 			rpc_enabled: true,
 			rpc_interface: "local".into(),