diff --git a/cmd/syncthing/connections.go b/cmd/syncthing/connections.go
index f02489ee1..960e0e32a 100644
--- a/cmd/syncthing/connections.go
+++ b/cmd/syncthing/connections.go
@@ -394,7 +394,11 @@ func (s *connectionSvc) connect() {
 
 func (s *connectionSvc) acceptRelayConns() {
 	for {
-		s.conns <- s.relaySvc.Accept()
+		conn := s.relaySvc.Accept()
+		s.conns <- model.IntermediateConnection{
+			Conn: conn,
+			Type: model.ConnectionTypeRelayAccept,
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/relay/relay.go b/lib/relay/relay.go
index a651a2156..c763f9229 100644
--- a/lib/relay/relay.go
+++ b/lib/relay/relay.go
@@ -18,15 +18,26 @@ import (
 	"github.com/syncthing/relaysrv/protocol"
 	"github.com/syncthing/syncthing/lib/config"
 	"github.com/syncthing/syncthing/lib/discover"
-	"github.com/syncthing/syncthing/lib/model"
 	"github.com/syncthing/syncthing/lib/osutil"
 	"github.com/syncthing/syncthing/lib/sync"
 
 	"github.com/thejerf/suture"
 )
 
+type Svc struct {
+	*suture.Supervisor
+	cfg    *config.Wrapper
+	tlsCfg *tls.Config
+
+	tokens      map[string]suture.ServiceToken
+	clients     map[string]*client.ProtocolClient
+	mut         sync.RWMutex
+	invitations chan protocol.SessionInvitation
+	conns       chan *tls.Conn
+}
+
 func NewSvc(cfg *config.Wrapper, tlsCfg *tls.Config) *Svc {
-	conns := make(chan model.IntermediateConnection)
+	conns := make(chan *tls.Conn)
 
 	svc := &Svc{
 		Supervisor: suture.New("Svc", suture.Spec{
@@ -65,18 +76,6 @@ func NewSvc(cfg *config.Wrapper, tlsCfg *tls.Config) *Svc {
 	return svc
 }
 
-type Svc struct {
-	*suture.Supervisor
-	cfg    *config.Wrapper
-	tlsCfg *tls.Config
-
-	tokens      map[string]suture.ServiceToken
-	clients     map[string]*client.ProtocolClient
-	mut         sync.RWMutex
-	invitations chan protocol.SessionInvitation
-	conns       chan model.IntermediateConnection
-}
-
 func (s *Svc) VerifyConfiguration(from, to config.Configuration) error {
 	for _, addr := range to.Options.RelayServers {
 		_, err := url.Parse(addr)
@@ -210,14 +209,15 @@ func (s *Svc) ClientStatus() map[string]bool {
 	return status
 }
 
-func (s *Svc) Accept() model.IntermediateConnection {
+// Accept returns a new *tls.Conn. The connection is already handshaken.
+func (s *Svc) Accept() *tls.Conn {
 	return <-s.conns
 }
 
 type invitationReceiver struct {
 	invitations chan protocol.SessionInvitation
 	tlsCfg      *tls.Config
-	conns       chan<- model.IntermediateConnection
+	conns       chan<- *tls.Conn
 	stop        chan struct{}
 }
 
@@ -254,9 +254,7 @@ func (r *invitationReceiver) Serve() {
 				tc.Close()
 				continue
 			}
-			r.conns <- model.IntermediateConnection{
-				tc, model.ConnectionTypeRelayAccept,
-			}
+			r.conns <- tc
 
 		case <-r.stop:
 			return