diff --git a/irc/client.go b/irc/client.go
index 45705f06..1801a7c6 100644
--- a/irc/client.go
+++ b/irc/client.go
@@ -163,8 +163,29 @@ type ClientDetails struct {
 	accountName        string
 }
 
-// NewClient sets up a new client and runs its goroutine.
-func RunNewClient(server *Server, conn clientConn) {
+// RunClient sets up a new client and runs its goroutine.
+func (server *Server) RunClient(conn clientConn) {
+	var isBanned bool
+	var banMsg string
+	var realIP net.IP
+	if conn.IsTor {
+		realIP = utils.IPv4LoopbackAddress
+		isBanned, banMsg = server.checkTorLimits()
+	} else {
+		realIP = utils.AddrToIP(conn.Conn.RemoteAddr())
+		isBanned, banMsg = server.checkBans(realIP)
+	}
+
+	if isBanned {
+		// this might not show up properly on some clients,
+		// but our objective here is just to close the connection out before it has a load impact on us
+		conn.Conn.Write([]byte(fmt.Sprintf(errorMsg, banMsg)))
+		conn.Conn.Close()
+		return
+	}
+
+	server.logger.Info("localconnect-ip", fmt.Sprintf("Client connecting from %v", realIP))
+
 	now := time.Now().UTC()
 	config := server.Config()
 	fullLineLenLimit := ircmsg.MaxlenTagsFromClient + config.Limits.LineLen.Rest
@@ -194,6 +215,7 @@ func RunNewClient(server *Server, conn clientConn) {
 		capState:   caps.NoneState,
 		ctime:      now,
 		atime:      now,
+		realIP:     realIP,
 	}
 	session.SetMaxlenRest()
 	client.sessions = []*Session{session}
@@ -204,19 +226,17 @@ func RunNewClient(server *Server, conn clientConn) {
 		client.certfp, _ = socket.CertFP()
 	}
 
-	remoteAddr := conn.Conn.RemoteAddr()
 	if conn.IsTor {
 		client.SetMode(modes.TLS, true)
-		session.realIP = utils.AddrToIP(remoteAddr)
 		// cover up details of the tor proxying infrastructure (not a user privacy concern,
 		// but a hardening measure):
 		session.proxiedIP = utils.IPv4LoopbackAddress
 		session.rawHostname = config.Server.TorListeners.Vhost
 	} else {
-		session.realIP = utils.AddrToIP(remoteAddr)
 		// set the hostname for this client (may be overridden later by PROXY or WEBIRC)
 		session.rawHostname = utils.LookupHostname(session.realIP.String())
 		client.cloakedHostname = config.Server.Cloaks.ComputeCloak(session.realIP)
+		remoteAddr := conn.Conn.RemoteAddr()
 		if utils.AddrIsLocal(remoteAddr) {
 			// treat local connections as secure (may be overridden later by WEBIRC)
 			client.SetMode(modes.TLS, true)
diff --git a/irc/server.go b/irc/server.go
index b8830a50..814ddfe1 100644
--- a/irc/server.go
+++ b/irc/server.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/logger"
 	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/modes"
 	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/sno"
-	"github.com/oragono/oragono/irc/utils"
 	"github.com/tidwall/buntdb"
 )
 
@@ -207,30 +206,6 @@ func (server *Server) Run() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (server *Server) acceptClient(conn clientConn) {
-	var isBanned bool
-	var banMsg string
-	var ipaddr net.IP
-	if conn.IsTor {
-		ipaddr = utils.IPv4LoopbackAddress
-		isBanned, banMsg = server.checkTorLimits()
-	} else {
-		ipaddr = utils.AddrToIP(conn.Conn.RemoteAddr())
-		isBanned, banMsg = server.checkBans(ipaddr)
-	}
-
-	if isBanned {
-		// this might not show up properly on some clients, but our objective here is just to close the connection out before it has a load impact on us
-		conn.Conn.Write([]byte(fmt.Sprintf(errorMsg, banMsg)))
-		conn.Conn.Close()
-		return
-	}
-
-	server.logger.Info("localconnect-ip", fmt.Sprintf("Client connecting from %v", ipaddr))
-
-	go RunNewClient(server, conn)
-}
-
 func (server *Server) checkBans(ipaddr net.IP) (banned bool, message string) {
 	// check DLINEs
 	isBanned, info := server.dlines.CheckIP(ipaddr)
@@ -338,7 +313,7 @@ func (server *Server) createListener(addr string, tlsConfig *tls.Config, isTor b
 					IsTor: isTor,
 				}
 				// hand off the connection
-				go server.acceptClient(newConn)
+				go server.RunClient(newConn)
 			}
 
 			if shouldStop {