diff --git a/slixmpp/clientxmpp.py b/slixmpp/clientxmpp.py
index 754db100..8ef3493b 100644
--- a/slixmpp/clientxmpp.py
+++ b/slixmpp/clientxmpp.py
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ class ClientXMPP(BaseXMPP):
         self.credentials['password'] = value
 
     def connect(self, address: Optional[Tuple[str, int]] = None,  # type: ignore
-                use_ssl: bool = False, force_starttls: bool = True,
-                disable_starttls: bool = False) -> None:
+                use_ssl: Optional[bool] = None, force_starttls: Optional[bool] = None,
+                disable_starttls: Optional[bool] = None) -> None:
         """Connect to the XMPP server.
 
         When no address is given, a SRV lookup for the server will
@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@ class ClientXMPP(BaseXMPP):
             host, port = (self.boundjid.host, 5222)
             self.dns_service = 'xmpp-client'
 
-        return XMLStream.connect(self, host, port, use_ssl=use_ssl,
-                                 force_starttls=force_starttls, disable_starttls=disable_starttls)
+        XMLStream.connect(self, host, port, use_ssl=use_ssl,
+                          force_starttls=force_starttls, disable_starttls=disable_starttls)
 
     def register_feature(self, name: str, handler: Callable, restart: bool = False, order: int = 5000) -> None:
         """Register a stream feature handler.
diff --git a/slixmpp/componentxmpp.py b/slixmpp/componentxmpp.py
index 2ef6ea45..3ed7bf82 100644
--- a/slixmpp/componentxmpp.py
+++ b/slixmpp/componentxmpp.py
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 import logging
 import hashlib
 
+from typing import Optional
+
 from slixmpp import Message, Iq, Presence
 from slixmpp.basexmpp import BaseXMPP
 from slixmpp.stanza import Handshake
@@ -93,7 +95,7 @@ class ComponentXMPP(BaseXMPP):
         for st in Message, Iq, Presence:
             register_stanza_plugin(st, Error)
 
-    def connect(self, host=None, port=None, use_ssl=False):
+    def connect(self, host: str = '', port: int = 0, use_ssl: Optional[bool] = None) -> None:
         """Connect to the server.
 
 
@@ -104,16 +106,15 @@ class ComponentXMPP(BaseXMPP):
         :param use_ssl: Flag indicating if SSL should be used by connecting
                         directly to a port using SSL.
         """
-        if host is None:
-            host = self.server_host
-        if port is None:
-            port = self.server_port
+        if host is not None:
+            self.server_host = host
+        if port:
+            self.server_port = port
 
         self.server_name = self.boundjid.host
 
         log.debug("Connecting to %s:%s", host, port)
-        return XMLStream.connect(self, host=host, port=port,
-                                       use_ssl=use_ssl)
+        XMLStream.connect(self, host=self.server_host, port=self.server_port, use_ssl=use_ssl)
 
     def incoming_filter(self, xml):
         """
diff --git a/slixmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py b/slixmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
index c7af73a4..65409ec7 100644
--- a/slixmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
+++ b/slixmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
@@ -290,8 +290,8 @@ class XMLStream(asyncio.BaseProtocol):
         self.xml_depth = 0
         self.xml_root = None
 
-        self.force_starttls = None
-        self.disable_starttls = None
+        self.force_starttls = True
+        self.disable_starttls = False
 
         self.waiting_queue = asyncio.Queue()
 
@@ -405,8 +405,9 @@ class XMLStream(asyncio.BaseProtocol):
             self.disconnected.set_result(True)
         self.disconnected = asyncio.Future()
 
-    def connect(self, host: str = '', port: int = 0, use_ssl: Optional[bool] = False,
-                force_starttls: Optional[bool] = True, disable_starttls: Optional[bool] = False) -> None:
+    def connect(self, host: str = '', port: int = 0, use_ssl: Optional[bool] = None,
+                force_starttls: Optional[bool] = None,
+                disable_starttls: Optional[bool] = None) -> None:
         """Create a new socket and connect to the server.
 
         :param host: The name of the desired server for the connection.