diff --git a/src/knownnodes.py b/src/knownnodes.py
index bb588fcb..26aa2f45 100644
--- a/src/knownnodes.py
+++ b/src/knownnodes.py
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ def json_deserialize_knownnodes(source):
         info = node['info']
         peer = Peer(str(peer['host']), peer.get('port', 8444))
         knownNodes[node['stream']][peer] = info
-
         if not (knownNodesActual
                 or info.get('self')) and peer not in DEFAULT_NODES:
             knownNodesActual = True
@@ -95,11 +94,27 @@ def saveKnownNodes(dirName=None):
 
 
 def addKnownNode(stream, peer, lastseen=None, is_self=False):
-    """Add a new node to the dict"""
+    """
+    Add a new node to the dict or update lastseen if it already exists
+    """
+    # pylint: disable=too-many-branches
+    rating = 0.0
+    if not lastseen:
+        # FIXME: maybe about 28 days?
+        lastseen = int(time.time())
+    else:
+        lastseen = int(lastseen)
+        try:
+            knownNodes[stream][peer]['lastseen'] = lastseen
+        except KeyError:
+            pass
+        else:
+            return
+
     knownNodes[stream][peer] = {
-        "lastseen": lastseen or time.time(),
-        "rating": 1 if is_self else 0,
-        "self": is_self,
+        'lastseen': lastseen,
+        'rating': rating or 1 if is_self else 0,
+        'self': is_self,
     }
 
 
diff --git a/src/network/bmproto.py b/src/network/bmproto.py
index 637e2ba7..48c8c37c 100644
--- a/src/network/bmproto.py
+++ b/src/network/bmproto.py
@@ -456,15 +456,8 @@ class BMProto(AdvancedDispatcher, ObjectTracker):
                 if len(knownnodes.knownNodes[stream]) < \
                         BMConfigParser().safeGetInt("knownnodes", "maxnodes"):
                     with knownnodes.knownNodesLock:
-                        try:
-                            knownnodes.knownNodes[stream][peer]["lastseen"] = \
-                                seenTime
-                        except (TypeError, KeyError):
-                            knownnodes.knownNodes[stream][peer] = {
-                                "lastseen": seenTime,
-                                "rating": 0,
-                                "self": False,
-                            }
+                        knownnodes.addKnownNode(stream, peer, seenTime)
+
                     # since we don't track peers outside of knownnodes,
                     # only spread if in knownnodes to prevent flood
                     # DISABLED TO WORKAROUND FLOOD/LEAK
diff --git a/src/network/tcp.py b/src/network/tcp.py
index 18fd2e1a..45e7389b 100644
--- a/src/network/tcp.py
+++ b/src/network/tcp.py
@@ -256,12 +256,8 @@ class TCPConnection(BMProto, TLSDispatcher):
         TLSDispatcher.handle_read(self)
         if self.isOutbound and self.fullyEstablished:
             for s in self.streams:
-                try:
-                    with knownnodes.knownNodesLock:
-                        knownnodes.knownNodes[s][self.destination][
-                            "lastseen"] = time.time()
-                except KeyError:
-                    pass
+                with knownnodes.knownNodesLock:
+                    knownnodes.addKnownNode(s, self.destination, time.time())
         receiveDataQueue.put(self.destination)
 
     def handle_write(self):