diff --git a/conn.go b/conn.go
index 1eae8f28..48d6b6f6 100644
--- a/conn.go
+++ b/conn.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func Connect(options map[string]string) (c *conn, err error) {
 
 	msg := newStartupMessage()
 	msg.options["user"] = "jack"
-	c.conn.Write(msg.Bytes())
+	c.txStartupMessage(msg)
 
 	var response interface{}
 	response, err = c.rxMsg()
@@ -143,3 +143,8 @@ func (c *conn) rxReadyForQuery(buf []byte) (msg *readyForQuery) {
 	msg.txStatus = buf[0]
 	return
 }
+
+func (c *conn) txStartupMessage(msg *startupMessage) (err error) {
+	_, err = c.conn.Write(msg.Bytes())
+	return
+}