diff --git a/src/download/choke_manager.cc b/src/download/choke_manager.cc
index 4915a96..3c422c0 100644
--- a/src/download/choke_manager.cc
+++ b/src/download/choke_manager.cc
@@ -129,8 +129,14 @@ ChokeManager::cycle(uint32_t quota) {
   if (m_unchoked.size() > quota)
     choke_range(m_unchoked.begin(), m_unchoked.end() - unchoked, m_unchoked.size() - quota);
 
+  // In case there were friends who are not to be choked, try again with twice
+  // as many as remain unchoked (friends who will not be choked again plus as
+  // many non-friends).
   if (m_unchoked.size() > quota)
-    throw internal_error("ChokeManager::cycle() m_unchoked.size() > quota.");
+    choke_range(m_unchoked.begin(), m_unchoked.end() - unchoked, std::min((m_unchoked.size() - quota) * 2, m_unchoked.size()));
+
+  // If there were friends in the n+1..2n range, we still have too many unchoked here.
+  // FIXME: Change choke_range to take the number of peers to unchoke, instead of a fixed range.
 
   return m_unchoked.size() - oldSize;
 }
@@ -145,10 +151,11 @@ ChokeManager::set_queued(PeerConnectionBase* pc, ChokeManagerNode* base) {
   if (base->snubbed())
     return;
 
-  if (!is_full() && (m_flags & flag_unchoke_all_new || m_slotCanUnchoke()) &&
-      base->time_last_choke() + rak::timer::from_seconds(10) < cachedTime) {
+  if (pc->peer_info()->is_friend() ||
+      (!is_full() && (m_flags & flag_unchoke_all_new || m_slotCanUnchoke()) &&
+       base->time_last_choke() + rak::timer::from_seconds(10) < cachedTime)) {
     m_unchoked.push_back(value_type(pc, 0));
-    m_slotConnection(pc, false);
+    m_slotConnection(pc, 0);
 
     m_slotUnchoke(1);
 
@@ -169,7 +176,7 @@ ChokeManager::set_not_queued(PeerConnectionBase* pc, ChokeManagerNode* base) {
 
   if (base->unchoked()) {
     choke_manager_erase(&m_unchoked, pc);
-    m_slotConnection(pc, true);
+    m_slotConnection(pc, flag_connection_choke);
     m_slotUnchoke(-1);
 
   } else {
@@ -186,7 +193,7 @@ ChokeManager::set_snubbed(PeerConnectionBase* pc, ChokeManagerNode* base) {
 
   if (base->unchoked()) {
     choke_manager_erase(&m_unchoked, pc);
-    m_slotConnection(pc, true);
+    m_slotConnection(pc, flag_connection_choke);
     m_slotUnchoke(-1);
 
   } else if (base->queued()) {
@@ -212,7 +219,7 @@ ChokeManager::set_not_snubbed(PeerConnectionBase* pc, ChokeManagerNode* base) {
   if (!is_full() && (m_flags & flag_unchoke_all_new || m_slotCanUnchoke()) &&
       base->time_last_choke() + rak::timer::from_seconds(10) < cachedTime) {
     m_unchoked.push_back(value_type(pc, 0));
-    m_slotConnection(pc, false);
+    m_slotConnection(pc, 0);
 
     m_slotUnchoke(1);
 
@@ -346,20 +353,20 @@ ChokeManager::choke_range(iterator first, iterator last, uint32_t max) {
         (itr - 1)->second > m_unchoked.end())
       throw internal_error("ChokeManager::choke_range(...) bad iterator range.");
 
-    count += (itr - 1)->first;
-
     // We move the connections that return true, while the ones that
-    // return false get thrown out. The function called must update
-    // ChunkManager::m_queued if false is returned.
+    // return false stay unchoked.
     //
     // The C++ standard says std::partition will call the predicate
     // max 'last - first' times, so we can assume it gets called once
     // per element.
     iterator split = std::partition(itr->second - (itr - 1)->first, itr->second,
-                                    rak::on(rak::mem_ref(&value_type::first), std::bind2nd(m_slotConnection, true)));
+                                    rak::on(rak::mem_ref(&value_type::first),
+                                            std::bind2nd(m_slotConnection, flag_connection_choke | flag_connection_may_ignore)));
 
     m_queued.insert(m_queued.end(), itr->second - (itr - 1)->first, split);
-    m_unchoked.erase(itr->second - (itr - 1)->first, itr->second);
+    m_unchoked.erase(itr->second - (itr - 1)->first, split);
+
+    count += split - (itr->second - (itr - 1)->first);
   }
 
   if (count > max)
@@ -392,7 +399,7 @@ ChokeManager::unchoke_range(iterator first, iterator last, uint32_t max) {
     count += (itr - 1)->first;
 
     std::for_each(itr->second - (itr - 1)->first, itr->second,
-                  rak::on(rak::mem_ref(&value_type::first), std::bind2nd(m_slotConnection, false)));
+                  rak::on(rak::mem_ref(&value_type::first), std::bind2nd(m_slotConnection, 0)));
 
     m_unchoked.insert(m_unchoked.end(), itr->second - (itr - 1)->first, itr->second);
     m_queued.erase(itr->second - (itr - 1)->first, itr->second);
diff --git a/src/download/choke_manager.h b/src/download/choke_manager.h
index d9ab886..3a7ec67 100644
--- a/src/download/choke_manager.h
+++ b/src/download/choke_manager.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class ChokeManager {
 public:
   typedef rak::mem_fun1<ResourceManager, void, int>              slot_unchoke;
   typedef rak::mem_fun0<ResourceManager, unsigned int>           slot_can_unchoke;
-  typedef std::mem_fun1_t<bool, PeerConnectionBase, bool>        slot_connection;
+  typedef std::mem_fun1_t<bool, PeerConnectionBase, int>         slot_connection;
 
   typedef std::vector<std::pair<PeerConnectionBase*, uint32_t> > container_type;
   typedef container_type::value_type                             value_type;
@@ -65,6 +65,9 @@ public:
 
   static const int flag_unchoke_all_new = 0x1;
 
+  static const int flag_connection_choke      = 0x1;
+  static const int flag_connection_may_ignore = 0x2;
+
   static const uint32_t order_base = (1 << 30);
   static const uint32_t order_max_size = 4;
   static const uint32_t weight_size_bytes = order_max_size * sizeof(uint32_t);
diff --git a/src/protocol/handshake.cc b/src/protocol/handshake.cc
index 7fb389b..ea3eee8 100644
--- a/src/protocol/handshake.cc
+++ b/src/protocol/handshake.cc
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@ Handshake::validate_download() {
     throw handshake_error(ConnectionManager::handshake_dropped, e_handshake_unknown_download);
   if (!m_download->info()->is_active())
     throw handshake_error(ConnectionManager::handshake_dropped, e_handshake_inactive_download);
-  if (!m_download->info()->is_accepting_new_peers())
+  if (!m_download->info()->is_accepting_new_peers() && m_peerInfo != NULL && !m_peerInfo->is_friend())
     throw handshake_error(ConnectionManager::handshake_dropped, e_handshake_not_accepting_connections);
 }
 
@@ -1024,6 +1024,9 @@ Handshake::prepare_peer_info() {
     if (m_peerInfo == NULL)
       throw handshake_error(ConnectionManager::handshake_failed, e_handshake_network_error);
 
+    if (!m_download->info()->is_accepting_new_peers() && !m_peerInfo->is_friend())
+      throw handshake_error(ConnectionManager::handshake_dropped, e_handshake_not_accepting_connections);
+
     if (m_peerInfo->failed_counter() > m_manager->max_failed)
       throw handshake_error(ConnectionManager::handshake_dropped, e_handshake_toomanyfailed);
 
diff --git a/src/protocol/handshake_manager.cc b/src/protocol/handshake_manager.cc
index e06f594..2dea2e5 100644
--- a/src/protocol/handshake_manager.cc
+++ b/src/protocol/handshake_manager.cc
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ HandshakeManager::erase_download(DownloadMain* info) {
 void
 HandshakeManager::add_incoming(SocketFd fd, const rak::socket_address& sa) {
   if (!manager->connection_manager()->can_connect() ||
-      !manager->connection_manager()->filter(sa.c_sockaddr()) ||
+      manager->connection_manager()->filter(sa.c_sockaddr()) == ConnectionManager::filter_blocked ||
       !setup_socket(fd)) {
     fd.close();
     return;
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ HandshakeManager::add_incoming(SocketFd fd, const rak::socket_address& sa) {
 void
 HandshakeManager::add_outgoing(const rak::socket_address& sa, DownloadMain* download) {
   if (!manager->connection_manager()->can_connect() ||
-      !manager->connection_manager()->filter(sa.c_sockaddr()))
+      manager->connection_manager()->filter(sa.c_sockaddr()) == ConnectionManager::filter_blocked)
     return;
 
   create_outgoing(sa, download, manager->connection_manager()->encryption_options());
diff --git a/src/protocol/peer_connection_base.cc b/src/protocol/peer_connection_base.cc
index 815ea93..9eddbb8 100644
--- a/src/protocol/peer_connection_base.cc
+++ b/src/protocol/peer_connection_base.cc
@@ -203,10 +203,14 @@ PeerConnectionBase::set_upload_snubbed(bool v) {
 }
 
 bool
-PeerConnectionBase::receive_upload_choke(bool choke) {
+PeerConnectionBase::receive_upload_choke(int flags) {
+  bool choke = flags & ChokeManager::flag_connection_choke;
   if (choke == m_upChoke.choked())
     throw internal_error("PeerConnectionBase::receive_upload_choke(...) already set to the same state.");
 
+  if (choke && m_peerInfo->is_friend() && (flags & ChokeManager::flag_connection_may_ignore))
+    return false;
+
   write_insert_poll_safe();
 
   m_sendChoked = true;
@@ -217,7 +221,8 @@ PeerConnectionBase::receive_upload_choke(bool choke) {
 }
 
 bool
-PeerConnectionBase::receive_download_choke(bool choke) {
+PeerConnectionBase::receive_download_choke(int flags) {
+  bool choke = flags & ChokeManager::flag_connection_choke;
   if (choke == m_downChoke.choked())
     throw internal_error("PeerConnectionBase::receive_download_choke(...) already set to the same state.");
 
@@ -427,7 +432,7 @@ PeerConnectionBase::down_chunk() {
   transfer->adjust_position(bytesTransfered);
 
   m_down->throttle()->node_used(m_peerChunks.download_throttle(), bytesTransfered);
-  m_download->info()->down_rate()->insert(bytesTransfered);
+  m_download->info()->down_rate()->insert(bytesTransfered, m_peerInfo->is_friend());
 
   return transfer->is_finished();
 }
@@ -497,7 +502,7 @@ PeerConnectionBase::down_chunk_process(const void* buffer, uint32_t length) {
   transfer->adjust_position(length);
 
   m_down->throttle()->node_used(m_peerChunks.download_throttle(), length);
-  m_download->info()->down_rate()->insert(length);
+  m_download->info()->down_rate()->insert(length, m_peerInfo->is_friend());
 
   return length;
 }
@@ -516,8 +521,8 @@ PeerConnectionBase::down_chunk_skip_process(const void* buffer, uint32_t length)
   // Hmm, this might result in more bytes than nessesary being
   // counted.
   m_down->throttle()->node_used(m_peerChunks.download_throttle(), length);
-  m_download->info()->down_rate()->insert(length);
-  m_download->info()->skip_rate()->insert(length);
+  m_download->info()->down_rate()->insert(length, m_peerInfo->is_friend());
+  m_download->info()->skip_rate()->insert(length, m_peerInfo->is_friend());
 
   if (!transfer->is_valid()) {
     transfer->adjust_position(length);
@@ -662,7 +667,7 @@ PeerConnectionBase::up_chunk() {
   }
 
   m_up->throttle()->node_used(m_peerChunks.upload_throttle(), bytesTransfered);
-  m_download->info()->up_rate()->insert(bytesTransfered);
+  m_download->info()->up_rate()->insert(bytesTransfered, m_peerInfo->is_friend());
 
   // Just modifying the piece to cover the remaining data ends up
   // being much cleaner and we avoid an unnessesary position variable.
diff --git a/src/protocol/peer_connection_base.h b/src/protocol/peer_connection_base.h
index d131341..dc0dc41 100644
--- a/src/protocol/peer_connection_base.h
+++ b/src/protocol/peer_connection_base.h
@@ -127,8 +127,8 @@ public:
   virtual void        update_interested() = 0;
   virtual bool        receive_keepalive() = 0;
 
-  bool                receive_upload_choke(bool choke);
-  bool                receive_download_choke(bool choke);
+  bool                receive_upload_choke(int flags);
+  bool                receive_download_choke(int flags);
 
   virtual void        event_error();
 
diff --git a/src/protocol/peer_connection_leech.cc b/src/protocol/peer_connection_leech.cc
index 36c6d7a..7918dff 100644
--- a/src/protocol/peer_connection_leech.cc
+++ b/src/protocol/peer_connection_leech.cc
@@ -516,6 +516,7 @@ PeerConnection<type>::fill_write_buffer() {
   if (type == Download::CONNECTION_LEECH && m_tryRequest) {
     if (!(m_tryRequest = !should_request()) &&
         !(m_tryRequest = try_request_pieces()) &&
+        !m_peerInfo->is_friend() &&
 
         !download_queue()->is_interested_in_active()) {
       m_sendInterested = true;
diff --git a/src/torrent/connection_manager.cc b/src/torrent/connection_manager.cc
index 152a0a1..efc919b 100644
--- a/src/torrent/connection_manager.cc
+++ b/src/torrent/connection_manager.cc
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ ConnectionManager::set_proxy_address(const sockaddr* sa) {
 uint32_t
 ConnectionManager::filter(const sockaddr* sa) {
   if (m_slotFilter.empty())
-    return 1;
+    return filter_permitted;
   else
     return m_slotFilter(sa);
 }
diff --git a/src/torrent/connection_manager.h b/src/torrent/connection_manager.h
index 07ac736..c5e81c0 100644
--- a/src/torrent/connection_manager.h
+++ b/src/torrent/connection_manager.h
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ public:
   static const uint32_t encryption_enable_retry     = (1 << 4);
   static const uint32_t encryption_prefer_plaintext = (1 << 5);
 
+  static const uint32_t filter_blocked              = 0;
+  static const uint32_t filter_permitted            = (1 << 0);
+  static const uint32_t filter_friend               = (1 << 1);
+
   // Internal to libtorrent.
   static const uint32_t encryption_use_proxy        = (1 << 6);
 
diff --git a/src/torrent/peer/connection_list.cc b/src/torrent/peer/connection_list.cc
index e50606e..fa9e912 100644
--- a/src/torrent/peer/connection_list.cc
+++ b/src/torrent/peer/connection_list.cc
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ ConnectionList::clear() {
 
 PeerConnectionBase*
 ConnectionList::insert(PeerInfo* peerInfo, const SocketFd& fd, Bitfield* bitfield, EncryptionInfo* encryptionInfo, ProtocolExtension* extensions) {
-  if (size() >= m_maxSize)
+  if (size() >= m_maxSize && !peerInfo->is_friend())
     return NULL;
 
   PeerConnectionBase* peerConnection = m_slotNewConnection(encryptionInfo->is_encrypted());
diff --git a/src/torrent/peer/peer.h b/src/torrent/peer/peer.h
index 70169ad..13e2880 100644
--- a/src/torrent/peer/peer.h
+++ b/src/torrent/peer/peer.h
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ public:
   void                 set_snubbed(bool v);
   void                 set_banned();
 
+  bool                 is_friend() const                  { return peer_info()->is_friend(); }
+
   const HashString&    id() const                         { return peer_info()->id(); }
   const char*          options() const                    { return peer_info()->options(); }
   const sockaddr*      address() const                    { return peer_info()->socket_address(); }
diff --git a/src/torrent/peer/peer_info.h b/src/torrent/peer/peer_info.h
index fe80027..8f56f73 100644
--- a/src/torrent/peer/peer_info.h
+++ b/src/torrent/peer/peer_info.h
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@
 #include <torrent/hash_string.h>
 #include <torrent/peer/client_info.h>
 
+// For conditional compilation depending on whether this patch was applied.
+// Remove for release.
+#define LIBTORRENT_FRIENDS 1
+
 namespace torrent {
 
 class LIBTORRENT_EXPORT PeerInfo {
@@ -56,8 +60,11 @@ public:
   static const int flag_handshake = (1 << 2);
   static const int flag_blocked   = (1 << 3);   // For initial seeding.
   static const int flag_restart   = (1 << 4);
+  static const int flag_filtered  = (1 << 5);
+  static const int flag_friend    = (1 << 6);
 
-  PeerInfo(const sockaddr* address);
+  // Constructor is private. Use PeerList::insert_address or
+  // PeerList::create_peer_info instead.
   ~PeerInfo();
 
   bool                is_connected() const                  { return m_flags & flag_connected; }
@@ -65,6 +72,8 @@ public:
   bool                is_handshake() const                  { return m_flags & flag_handshake; }
   bool                is_blocked() const                    { return m_flags & flag_blocked; }
   bool                is_restart() const                    { return m_flags & flag_restart; }
+  bool                is_filtered() const                   { return m_flags & flag_filtered; }
+  bool                is_friend() const                     { return m_flags & flag_friend; }
 
   int                 flags() const                         { return m_flags; }
 
@@ -108,6 +117,7 @@ protected:
   void                set_connection(PeerConnectionBase* c) { m_connection = c; }
 
 private:
+  PeerInfo(const sockaddr* address);
   PeerInfo(const PeerInfo&);
   void operator = (const PeerInfo&);
 
diff --git a/src/torrent/peer/peer_list.cc b/src/torrent/peer/peer_list.cc
index cef840b..7164b91 100644
--- a/src/torrent/peer/peer_list.cc
+++ b/src/torrent/peer/peer_list.cc
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@
 #include <rak/socket_address.h>
 
 #include "download/available_list.h"
+#include "torrent/connection_manager.h"
 #include "torrent/peer/client_list.h"
+#include "torrent.h"
 
 #include "exceptions.h"
 #include "globals.h"
@@ -102,6 +104,20 @@ PeerList::~PeerList() {
 }
 
 PeerInfo*
+PeerList::create_peer_info(const sockaddr* sa) {
+  PeerInfo* peerInfo = new PeerInfo(sa);
+  uint32_t filter = connection_manager()->filter(sa);
+
+  if (filter == ConnectionManager::filter_blocked)
+    peerInfo->set_flags(PeerInfo::flag_filtered);
+
+  else if (filter & ConnectionManager::filter_friend)
+    peerInfo->set_flags(PeerInfo::flag_friend);
+
+  return peerInfo;
+}
+
+PeerInfo*
 PeerList::insert_address(const sockaddr* sa, int flags) {
   if (!socket_address_key::is_comparable(sa))
     return NULL;
@@ -118,7 +134,7 @@ PeerList::insert_address(const sockaddr* sa, int flags) {
 
   const rak::socket_address* address = rak::socket_address::cast_from(sa);
 
-  PeerInfo* peerInfo = new PeerInfo(sa);
+  PeerInfo* peerInfo = create_peer_info(sa);
   peerInfo->set_listen_port(address->port());
   
   manager->client_list()->retrieve_unknown(&peerInfo->mutable_client_info());
@@ -216,7 +232,7 @@ PeerList::connected(const sockaddr* sa, int flags) {
 
   if (range.first == range.second) {
     // Create a new entry.
-    peerInfo = new PeerInfo(sa);
+    peerInfo = create_peer_info(sa);
 
     base_type::insert(range.second, value_type(socket_address_key(peerInfo->socket_address()), peerInfo));
 
diff --git a/src/torrent/peer/peer_list.h b/src/torrent/peer/peer_list.h
index fece106..2ee5e1e 100644
--- a/src/torrent/peer/peer_list.h
+++ b/src/torrent/peer/peer_list.h
@@ -111,6 +111,8 @@ public:
   const_reverse_iterator rbegin() const { return base_type::rbegin(); }
   const_reverse_iterator rend() const   { return base_type::rend(); }
 
+  static PeerInfo*    create_peer_info(const sockaddr* sa);
+
 protected:
   // Insert, or find a PeerInfo with socket address 'sa'. Returns end
   // if no more connections are allowed from that host.
diff --git a/src/torrent/rate.cc b/src/torrent/rate.cc
index c28d718..586350d 100644
--- a/src/torrent/rate.cc
+++ b/src/torrent/rate.cc
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ Rate::rate() const {
 }
 
 void
-Rate::insert(rate_type bytes) {
+Rate::insert(rate_type bytes, bool rate_only) {
   discard_old();
 
   if (m_current > ((rate_type)1 << 40) || bytes > ((rate_type)1 << 28))
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ Rate::insert(rate_type bytes) {
   else
     m_container.front().second += bytes;
 
-  m_total += bytes;
+  m_total += rate_only ? 0 : bytes;
   m_current += bytes;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/torrent/rate.h b/src/torrent/rate.h
index 239e4b6..4c48aea 100644
--- a/src/torrent/rate.h
+++ b/src/torrent/rate.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ public:
   timer_type          span() const                            { return m_span; }
   void                set_span(timer_type s)                  { m_span = s; }
 
-  void                insert(rate_type bytes);
+  void                insert(rate_type bytes, bool rate_only = false);
 
   void                reset_rate()                            { m_current = 0; m_container.clear(); }