diff --git a/electrum/interface.py b/electrum/interface.py
index 36cfb13c4..1e42fce6d 100644
--- a/electrum/interface.py
+++ b/electrum/interface.py
@@ -328,6 +328,9 @@ class PaddedRSTransport(RSTransport):
 
     MIN_PACKET_SIZE = 1024
     WAIT_FOR_BUFFER_GROWTH_SECONDS = 1.0
+    # (unpadded) amount of bytes sent instantly before beginning with polling.
+    # This makes the initial handshake where a few small messages are exchanged faster.
+    WARMUP_BUDGET_SIZE = 1024
 
     session: Optional['RPCSession']
 
@@ -361,6 +364,7 @@ class PaddedRSTransport(RSTransport):
             self._force_send
             or len(buf) >= self.MIN_PACKET_SIZE
             or self._last_send + self.WAIT_FOR_BUFFER_GROWTH_SECONDS < time.monotonic()
+            or self.session.send_size < self.WARMUP_BUDGET_SIZE
         ):
             return
         assert buf[-2:] in (b"}\n", b"]\n"), f"unexpected json-rpc terminator: {buf[-2:]=!r}"
@@ -950,6 +954,7 @@ class Interface(Logger):
             proxy=self.proxy,
             transport=PaddedRSTransport,
         ) as session:
+            start = time.perf_counter()
             self.session = session  # type: NotificationSession
             self.session.set_default_timeout(self.network.get_network_timeout_seconds(NetworkTimeout.Generic))
             try:
@@ -964,7 +969,15 @@ class Interface(Logger):
             if not self.network.check_interface_against_healthy_spread_of_connected_servers(self):
                 raise GracefulDisconnect(f'too many connected servers already '
                                          f'in bucket {self.bucket_based_on_ipaddress()}')
-            self.logger.info(f"connection established. version: {ver}")
+
+            try:
+                features = await session.send_request('server.features')
+                server_genesis_hash = assert_dict_contains_field(features, field_name='genesis_hash')
+            except (aiorpcx.jsonrpc.RPCError, RequestCorrupted) as e:
+                raise GracefulDisconnect(e)
+            if server_genesis_hash != constants.net.GENESIS:
+                raise GracefulDisconnect(f'server on different chain: {server_genesis_hash=}. ours: {constants.net.GENESIS}')
+            self.logger.info(f"connection established. version: {ver}, handshake duration: {(time.perf_counter() - start) * 1000:.2f} ms")
 
             try:
                 async with self.taskgroup as group:
diff --git a/tests/test_interface.py b/tests/test_interface.py
index da4f607cd..07b13338e 100644
--- a/tests/test_interface.py
+++ b/tests/test_interface.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from electrum.util import OldTaskGroup, bfh
 from electrum.logging import Logger
 from electrum.simple_config import SimpleConfig
 from electrum.transaction import Transaction
+from electrum import constants
 
 from . import ElectrumTestCase
 
@@ -130,6 +131,7 @@ class ServerSession(aiorpcx.RPCSession, Logger):
     async def handle_request(self, request):
         handlers = {
             'server.version': self._handle_server_version,
+            'server.features': self._handle_server_features,
             'blockchain.estimatefee': self._handle_estimatefee,
             'blockchain.headers.subscribe': self._handle_headers_subscribe,
             'blockchain.block.header': self._handle_block_header,
@@ -146,6 +148,17 @@ class ServerSession(aiorpcx.RPCSession, Logger):
     async def _handle_server_version(self, client_name='', protocol_version=None):
         return ['best_server_impl/0.1', '1.4']
 
+    async def _handle_server_features(self) -> dict:
+        return {
+            'genesis_hash': constants.net.GENESIS,
+            'hosts': {"14.3.140.101": {"tcp_port": 51001, "ssl_port": 51002}},
+            'protocol_max': '1.7.0',
+            'protocol_min': '1.4.3',
+            'pruning': None,
+            'server_version': 'ElectrumX 1.19.0',
+            'hash_function': 'sha256',
+        }
+
     async def _handle_estimatefee(self, number, mode=None):
         return 1000