diff --git a/src/core/channel/client_channel.c b/src/core/channel/client_channel.c
index 965d4e53dc6..dc838de7153 100644
--- a/src/core/channel/client_channel.c
+++ b/src/core/channel/client_channel.c
@@ -249,7 +249,6 @@ static void started_call(void *arg, int iomgr_success) {
 
 static void picked_target(void *arg, int iomgr_success) {
   call_data *calld = arg;
-  channel_data *chand = calld->elem->channel_data;
   grpc_transport_stream_op op;
 
   if (calld->picked_channel == NULL) {
@@ -268,7 +267,9 @@ static void picked_target(void *arg, int iomgr_success) {
       memset(&calld->waiting_op, 0, sizeof(calld->waiting_op));
       gpr_mu_unlock(&calld->mu_state);
       grpc_iomgr_closure_init(&calld->async_setup_task, started_call, calld);
-      grpc_subchannel_create_call(calld->picked_channel, chand->mdctx, &op, &calld->subchannel_call, &calld->async_setup_task);
+      grpc_subchannel_create_call(calld->picked_channel, &op,
+                                  &calld->subchannel_call,
+                                  &calld->async_setup_task);
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/core/client_config/connector.c b/src/core/client_config/connector.c
index c3a8962ea66..60c392f85b5 100644
--- a/src/core/client_config/connector.c
+++ b/src/core/client_config/connector.c
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ void grpc_connector_unref(grpc_connector *connector) {
   connector->vtable->unref(connector);
 }
 
-void grpc_connector_connect(grpc_connector *connector,
-                            const grpc_channel_args *channel_args,
-                            grpc_mdctx *metadata_context,
-                            grpc_transport **transport,
-                            grpc_iomgr_closure *notify) {
-  connector->vtable->connect(connector, channel_args, metadata_context,
-                             transport, notify);
+void grpc_connector_connect(
+    grpc_connector *connector, grpc_pollset_set *pollset_set,
+    const struct sockaddr *addr, int addr_len, gpr_timespec deadline,
+    const grpc_channel_args *channel_args, grpc_mdctx *metadata_context,
+    grpc_transport **transport, grpc_iomgr_closure *notify) {
+  connector->vtable->connect(connector, pollset_set, addr, addr_len, deadline,
+                             channel_args, metadata_context, transport, notify);
 }
diff --git a/src/core/client_config/connector.h b/src/core/client_config/connector.h
index 8ada75ec708..72414377293 100644
--- a/src/core/client_config/connector.h
+++ b/src/core/client_config/connector.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #ifndef GRPC_INTERNAL_CORE_CLIENT_CONFIG_CONNECTOR_H
 #define GRPC_INTERNAL_CORE_CLIENT_CONFIG_CONNECTOR_H
 
+#include "src/core/iomgr/sockaddr.h"
 #include "src/core/transport/transport.h"
 
 typedef struct grpc_connector grpc_connector;
@@ -46,18 +47,19 @@ struct grpc_connector {
 struct grpc_connector_vtable {
   void (*ref)(grpc_connector *connector);
   void (*unref)(grpc_connector *connector);
-  void (*connect)(grpc_connector *connector,
-                  const grpc_channel_args *channel_args,
+  void (*connect)(grpc_connector *connector, grpc_pollset_set *pollset_set,
+                  const struct sockaddr *addr, int addr_len,
+                  gpr_timespec deadline, const grpc_channel_args *channel_args,
                   grpc_mdctx *metadata_context, grpc_transport **transport,
                   grpc_iomgr_closure *notify);
 };
 
 void grpc_connector_ref(grpc_connector *connector);
 void grpc_connector_unref(grpc_connector *connector);
-void grpc_connector_connect(grpc_connector *connector,
-                            const grpc_channel_args *channel_args,
-                            grpc_mdctx *metadata_context,
-                            grpc_transport **transport,
-                            grpc_iomgr_closure *notify);
+void grpc_connector_connect(
+    grpc_connector *connector, grpc_pollset_set *pollset_set,
+    const struct sockaddr *addr, int addr_len, gpr_timespec deadline,
+    const grpc_channel_args *channel_args, grpc_mdctx *metadata_context,
+    grpc_transport **transport, grpc_iomgr_closure *notify);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/core/client_config/subchannel.c b/src/core/client_config/subchannel.c
index 9637cf39fec..2b4c7ea1d38 100644
--- a/src/core/client_config/subchannel.c
+++ b/src/core/client_config/subchannel.c
@@ -44,6 +44,19 @@ typedef struct {
   grpc_subchannel *subchannel;
 } connection;
 
+typedef struct waiting_for_connect {
+  struct waiting_for_connect *next;
+  grpc_iomgr_closure *notify;
+  grpc_transport_stream_op *initial_op;
+  grpc_subchannel_call **target;
+} waiting_for_connect;
+
+typedef struct connectivity_state_watcher {
+  struct connectivity_state_watcher *next;
+  grpc_iomgr_closure *notify;
+  grpc_connectivity_state *current;
+} connectivity_state_watcher;
+
 struct grpc_subchannel {
   gpr_refcount refs;
   grpc_connector *connector;
@@ -56,6 +69,8 @@ struct grpc_subchannel {
   /** address to connect to */
   struct sockaddr *addr;
   size_t addr_len;
+  /** metadata context */
+  grpc_mdctx *mdctx;
 
   /** set during connection */
   grpc_transport *connecting_transport;
@@ -63,6 +78,10 @@ struct grpc_subchannel {
   /** callback for connection finishing */
   grpc_iomgr_closure connected;
 
+  /** pollset_set tracking who's interested in a connection
+      being setup */
+  grpc_pollset_set pollset_set;
+
   /** mutex protecting remaining elements */
   gpr_mu mu;
 
@@ -70,8 +89,10 @@ struct grpc_subchannel {
   connection *active;
   /** are we connecting */
   int connecting;
-  /** closures waiting for a connection */
-  grpc_iomgr_closure *waiting;
+  /** things waiting for a connection */
+  waiting_for_connect *waiting;
+  /** things watching the connectivity state */
+  connectivity_state_watcher *watchers;
 };
 
 struct grpc_subchannel_call {
@@ -82,6 +103,9 @@ struct grpc_subchannel_call {
 #define SUBCHANNEL_CALL_TO_CALL_STACK(call) (((grpc_call_stack *)(call)) + 1)
 
 static grpc_subchannel_call *create_call(connection *con, grpc_transport_stream_op *initial_op);
+static void connectivity_state_changed_locked(grpc_subchannel *c);
+static grpc_connectivity_state compute_connectivity_locked(grpc_subchannel *c);
+static gpr_timespec compute_connect_deadline(grpc_subchannel *c);
 
 /*
  * grpc_subchannel implementation
@@ -94,10 +118,21 @@ void grpc_subchannel_unref(grpc_subchannel *c) {
     gpr_free(c->filters);
     grpc_channel_args_destroy(c->args);
     gpr_free(c->addr);
+    grpc_mdctx_unref(c->mdctx);
     gpr_free(c);
   }
 }
 
+void grpc_subchannel_add_interested_party(grpc_subchannel *c,
+                                          grpc_pollset *pollset) {
+  grpc_pollset_set_add_pollset(&c->pollset_set, pollset);
+}
+
+void grpc_subchannel_del_interested_party(grpc_subchannel *c,
+                                          grpc_pollset *pollset) {
+  grpc_pollset_set_del_pollset(&c->pollset_set, pollset);
+}
+
 grpc_subchannel *grpc_subchannel_create(grpc_connector *connector,
                                         grpc_subchannel_args *args) {
   grpc_subchannel *c = gpr_malloc(sizeof(*c));
@@ -113,12 +148,13 @@ grpc_subchannel *grpc_subchannel_create(grpc_connector *connector,
   memcpy(c->addr, args->addr, args->addr_len);
   c->addr_len = args->addr_len;
   c->args = grpc_channel_args_copy(args->args);
+  c->mdctx = args->mdctx;
+  grpc_mdctx_ref(c->mdctx);
   gpr_mu_init(&c->mu);
   return c;
 }
 
 void grpc_subchannel_create_call(grpc_subchannel *c,
-                                 grpc_mdctx *mdctx,
                                  grpc_transport_stream_op *initial_op,
                                  grpc_subchannel_call **target,
                                  grpc_iomgr_closure *notify) {
@@ -132,19 +168,101 @@ void grpc_subchannel_create_call(grpc_subchannel *c,
     *target = create_call(con, initial_op);
     notify->cb(notify->cb_arg, 1);
   } else {
-    notify->next = c->waiting;
-    c->waiting = notify;
+    waiting_for_connect *w4c = gpr_malloc(sizeof(*w4c));
+    w4c->next = c->waiting;
+    w4c->notify = notify;
+    w4c->initial_op = initial_op;
+    w4c->target = target;
+    c->waiting = w4c;
+    grpc_subchannel_add_interested_party(c, initial_op->bind_pollset);
     if (!c->connecting) {
       c->connecting = 1;
+      connectivity_state_changed_locked(c);
       gpr_mu_unlock(&c->mu);
 
-      grpc_connector_connect(c->connector, c->args, mdctx, &c->connecting_transport, &c->connected);
+      grpc_connector_connect(c->connector, &c->pollset_set, c->addr,
+                             c->addr_len, compute_connect_deadline(c), c->args,
+                             c->mdctx, &c->connecting_transport, &c->connected);
     } else {
       gpr_mu_unlock(&c->mu);
     }
   }
 }
 
+grpc_connectivity_state grpc_subchannel_check_connectivity(grpc_subchannel *c) {
+  grpc_connectivity_state state;
+  gpr_mu_lock(&c->mu);
+  state = compute_connectivity_locked(c);
+  gpr_mu_unlock(&c->mu);
+  return state;
+}
+
+void grpc_subchannel_notify_on_state_change(grpc_subchannel *c,
+                                            grpc_connectivity_state *state,
+                                            grpc_iomgr_closure *notify) {
+  grpc_connectivity_state current;
+  int do_connect = 0;
+  connectivity_state_watcher *w = gpr_malloc(sizeof(*w));
+  w->current = state;
+  w->notify = notify;
+  gpr_mu_lock(&c->mu);
+  current = compute_connectivity_locked(c);
+  if (current == GRPC_CHANNEL_IDLE) {
+    current = GRPC_CHANNEL_CONNECTING;
+    c->connecting = 1;
+    do_connect = 1;
+    connectivity_state_changed_locked(c);
+  }
+  if (current != *state) {
+    gpr_mu_unlock(&c->mu);
+    *state = current;
+    grpc_iomgr_add_callback(notify);
+    gpr_free(w);
+  } else {
+    w->next = c->watchers;
+    c->watchers = w;
+    gpr_mu_unlock(&c->mu);
+  }
+  if (do_connect) {
+    grpc_connector_connect(c->connector, &c->pollset_set, c->addr, c->addr_len,
+                           compute_connect_deadline(c), c->args, c->mdctx,
+                           &c->connecting_transport, &c->connected);
+  }
+}
+
+static gpr_timespec compute_connect_deadline(grpc_subchannel *c) {
+  return gpr_time_add(gpr_now(), gpr_time_from_seconds(60));
+}
+
+static grpc_connectivity_state compute_connectivity_locked(grpc_subchannel *c) {
+  if (c->connecting) {
+    return GRPC_CHANNEL_CONNECTING;
+  }
+  if (c->active) {
+    return GRPC_CHANNEL_READY;
+  }
+  return GRPC_CHANNEL_IDLE;
+}
+
+static void connectivity_state_changed_locked(grpc_subchannel *c) {
+  grpc_connectivity_state current = compute_connectivity_locked(c);
+  connectivity_state_watcher *new = NULL;
+  connectivity_state_watcher *w;
+  while ((w = c->watchers)) {
+    c->watchers = w->next;
+
+    if (current != *w->current) {
+      *w->current = current;
+      grpc_iomgr_add_callback(w->notify);
+      gpr_free(w);
+    } else {
+      w->next = new;
+      new = w;
+    }
+  }
+  c->watchers = new;
+}
+
 /*
  * grpc_subchannel_call implementation
  */
diff --git a/src/core/client_config/subchannel.h b/src/core/client_config/subchannel.h
index 8b3d82eb0ad..8836f9b09c1 100644
--- a/src/core/client_config/subchannel.h
+++ b/src/core/client_config/subchannel.h
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@ void grpc_subchannel_del_interested_party(grpc_subchannel *channel, grpc_pollset
 
 /** construct a call (possibly asynchronously) */
 void grpc_subchannel_create_call(grpc_subchannel *subchannel,
-  grpc_mdctx *mdctx,
                                  grpc_transport_stream_op *initial_op,
                                  grpc_subchannel_call **target,
                                  grpc_iomgr_closure *notify);
@@ -84,6 +83,8 @@ struct grpc_subchannel_args {
   /** Address to connect to */
   struct sockaddr *addr;
   size_t addr_len;
+  /** metadata context to use */
+  grpc_mdctx *mdctx;
 };
 
 /** create a subchannel given a connector */
diff --git a/src/core/surface/channel_create.c b/src/core/surface/channel_create.c
index ba4e1a24ecc..46d1d708dd7 100644
--- a/src/core/surface/channel_create.c
+++ b/src/core/surface/channel_create.c
@@ -41,11 +41,18 @@
 #include "src/core/channel/channel_args.h"
 #include "src/core/channel/client_channel.h"
 #include "src/core/client_config/resolver_registry.h"
+#include "src/core/iomgr/tcp_client.h"
 #include "src/core/surface/channel.h"
+#include "src/core/transport/chttp2_transport.h"
 
 typedef struct {
   grpc_connector base;
   gpr_refcount refs;
+
+  grpc_transport **transport;
+  grpc_iomgr_closure *notify;
+  const grpc_channel_args *args;
+  grpc_mdctx *mdctx;
 } connector;
 
 static void connector_ref(grpc_connector *con) {
@@ -60,28 +67,68 @@ static void connector_unref(grpc_connector *con) {
   }
 }
 
-static void connector_connect(grpc_connector *connector, const grpc_channel_args *channel_args, grpc_mdctx *metadata_context, grpc_transport **transport, grpc_iomgr_closure *notify) {
-  abort();
+static void connected(void *arg, grpc_endpoint *tcp) {
+  connector *c = arg;
+  grpc_iomgr_closure *notify;
+  if (tcp != NULL) {
+    *c->transport =
+        grpc_create_chttp2_transport(c->args, tcp, NULL, 0, c->mdctx, 1);
+  } else {
+    *c->transport = NULL;
+  }
+  notify = c->notify;
+  c->notify = NULL;
+  grpc_iomgr_add_callback(notify);
+}
+
+static void connector_connect(
+    grpc_connector *con, grpc_pollset_set *pollset_set,
+    const struct sockaddr *addr, int addr_len, gpr_timespec deadline,
+    const grpc_channel_args *channel_args, grpc_mdctx *metadata_context,
+    grpc_transport **transport, grpc_iomgr_closure *notify) {
+  connector *c = (connector *)con;
+  GPR_ASSERT(c->notify == NULL);
+  c->notify = notify;
+  c->args = channel_args;
+  c->mdctx = metadata_context;
+  grpc_tcp_client_connect(connected, c, pollset_set, addr, addr_len, deadline);
 }
 
 static const grpc_connector_vtable connector_vtable = {connector_ref, connector_unref, connector_connect};
 
-static void subchannel_factory_ref(grpc_subchannel_factory *scf) {}
+typedef struct {
+  grpc_subchannel_factory base;
+  gpr_refcount refs;
+  grpc_mdctx *mdctx;
+} subchannel_factory;
+
+static void subchannel_factory_ref(grpc_subchannel_factory *scf) {
+  subchannel_factory *f = (subchannel_factory *)scf;
+  gpr_ref(&f->refs);
+}
 
-static void subchannel_factory_unref(grpc_subchannel_factory *scf) {}
+static void subchannel_factory_unref(grpc_subchannel_factory *scf) {
+  subchannel_factory *f = (subchannel_factory *)scf;
+  if (gpr_unref(&f->refs)) {
+    grpc_mdctx_unref(f->mdctx);
+    gpr_free(f);
+  }
+}
 
 static grpc_subchannel *subchannel_factory_create_subchannel(grpc_subchannel_factory *scf, grpc_subchannel_args *args) {
+  subchannel_factory *f = (subchannel_factory *)scf;
   connector *c = gpr_malloc(sizeof(*c));
   grpc_subchannel *s;
+  memset(c, 0, sizeof(*c));
   c->base.vtable = &connector_vtable;
   gpr_ref_init(&c->refs, 1);
+  args->mdctx = f->mdctx;
   s = grpc_subchannel_create(&c->base, args);
   grpc_connector_unref(&c->base);
   return s;
 }
 
 static const grpc_subchannel_factory_vtable subchannel_factory_vtable = {subchannel_factory_ref, subchannel_factory_unref, subchannel_factory_create_subchannel};
-static grpc_subchannel_factory subchannel_factory = {&subchannel_factory_vtable};
 
 /* Create a client channel:
    Asynchronously: - resolve target
@@ -93,6 +140,8 @@ grpc_channel *grpc_channel_create(const char *target,
 #define MAX_FILTERS 3
   const grpc_channel_filter *filters[MAX_FILTERS];
   grpc_resolver *resolver;
+  subchannel_factory *f;
+  grpc_mdctx *mdctx = grpc_mdctx_create();
   int n = 0;
   /* TODO(census)
   if (grpc_channel_args_is_census_enabled(args)) {
@@ -101,12 +150,16 @@ grpc_channel *grpc_channel_create(const char *target,
   filters[n++] = &grpc_client_channel_filter;
   GPR_ASSERT(n <= MAX_FILTERS);
 
-  resolver = grpc_resolver_create(target, &subchannel_factory);
+  f = gpr_malloc(sizeof(*f));
+  f->base.vtable = &subchannel_factory_vtable;
+  gpr_ref_init(&f->refs, 1);
+  f->mdctx = mdctx;
+  resolver = grpc_resolver_create(target, &f->base);
   if (!resolver) {
     return NULL;
   }
 
-  channel = grpc_channel_create_from_filters(filters, n, args, grpc_mdctx_create(), 1);
+  channel = grpc_channel_create_from_filters(filters, n, args, mdctx, 1);
   grpc_client_channel_set_resolver(grpc_channel_get_channel_stack(channel), resolver);
 
   return channel;