diff --git a/services/presence2/presenceservice.py b/services/presence2/presenceservice.py
index af709695..109fd0fd 100644
--- a/services/presence2/presenceservice.py
+++ b/services/presence2/presenceservice.py
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@
 import gobject
 import dbus, dbus.service, dbus.glib
 from telepathy.client import ManagerRegistry, Connection
-from telepathy.interfaces import CONN_MGR_INTERFACE
+from telepathy.interfaces import (CONN_MGR_INTERFACE, CONN_INTERFACE)
+from telepathy.constants import (CONNECTION_STATUS_CONNECTING, CONNECTION_STATUS_CONNECTED,
+    CONNECTION_STATUS_DISCONNECTED, CONNECTION_HANDLE_TYPE_CONTACT)
  
 import telepathyclient
 from buddy import Buddy, Owner
@@ -58,19 +60,7 @@ class PresenceService(dbus.service.Object):
         self._registry = ManagerRegistry()
         self._registry.LoadManagers()
 
-        # Telepathy connection to the server
-        mgr = self._registry.GetManager('gabble')
-        protocol = 'jabber'
-        account = {
-            'account': 'olpc@collabora.co.uk',
-            'password': 'learn',
-            'server': 'light.bluelinux.co.uk'
-        }
-        conn_bus_name, conn_object_path = \
-        mgr[CONN_MGR_INTERFACE].RequestConnection(protocol, account)
-        conn = Connection(conn_bus_name, conn_object_path)
-        self._server_client = telepathyclient.TelepathyClient(conn)
-
+        self._server_client = self._connect_to_server()
         self._handles[self._server_client] = {}
 
         # Telepathy link local connection
@@ -82,6 +72,38 @@ class PresenceService(dbus.service.Object):
 
         dbus.service.Object.__init__(self, self._bus_name, _PRESENCE_PATH)
 
+    def _connect_to_server(self):
+        protocol = 'jabber'
+        account = {
+            'account': 'olpc@collabora.co.uk',
+            'password': 'learn',
+            'server': 'light.bluelinux.co.uk'
+        }
+
+        mgr = self._registry.GetManager('gabble')
+        conn = None
+
+        # Search existing connections, if any, that we might be able to use
+        connections = Connection.get_connections()
+        for item in connections:
+            if item[CONN_INTERFACE].GetProtocol() != protocol:
+                continue
+            if not item.object_path.startswith("/org/freedesktop/Telepathy/Connection/gabble/jabber/"):
+                continue
+            if item[CONN_INTERFACE].GetStatus() == CONNECTION_STATUS_CONNECTED:
+                self_name = account['account']
+                test_handle = item[CONN_INTERFACE].RequestHandles(CONNECTION_HANDLE_TYPE_CONTACT, [self_name])[0]
+                if item[CONN_INTERFACE].GetSelfHandle() != test_handle:
+                    continue
+            conn = item
+
+        if not conn:
+            conn_bus_name, conn_object_path = \
+                    mgr[CONN_MGR_INTERFACE].RequestConnection(protocol, account)
+            conn = Connection(conn_bus_name, conn_object_path)
+
+        return telepathyclient.TelepathyClient(conn)
+
     def _contact_online(self, tp, handle, key):
         buddy = self._buddies.get(key)