diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.c
index 8a33bcea97de..4dcd63a2369f 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.c
@@ -301,8 +301,9 @@ int connect_to_fd_opts(int server_fd, const struct network_helper_opts *opts)
 		       strlen(opts->cc) + 1))
 		goto error_close;
 
-	if (connect_fd_to_addr(fd, &addr, addrlen, opts->must_fail))
-		goto error_close;
+	if (!opts->noconnect)
+		if (connect_fd_to_addr(fd, &addr, addrlen, opts->must_fail))
+			goto error_close;
 
 	return fd;
 
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.h b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.h
index 694185644da6..87894dc984dd 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.h
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ struct network_helper_opts {
 	const char *cc;
 	int timeout_ms;
 	bool must_fail;
+	bool noconnect;
 };
 
 /* ipv4 test vector */