diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 6e9873d..eb559c5 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -4,3 +4,4 @@ peewee
 gunicorn
 arrow
 flask_wtf
+git+https://github.com/cdiv1e12/py-levin
diff --git a/xmrnodes/app.py b/xmrnodes/app.py
index 4763954..844b797 100644
--- a/xmrnodes/app.py
+++ b/xmrnodes/app.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from flask import Flask, request, redirect
 from flask import render_template, flash, url_for
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
-from xmrnodes.helpers import determine_crypto, is_onion, make_request
+from xmrnodes.helpers import determine_crypto, is_onion, make_request, retrieve_peers
 from xmrnodes.forms import SubmitNode
 from xmrnodes.models import Node, HealthCheck
 from xmrnodes import config
@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ def check():
             node.save()
             hc.save()
 
+@app.cli.command("get_peers")
+def get_peers():
+    r = retrieve_peers()
+    print(r)
+
 @app.cli.command("validate")
 def validate():
     nodes = Node.select().where(Node.validated == False)
diff --git a/xmrnodes/config.example.py b/xmrnodes/config.example.py
index 116a24c..daa0ca7 100644
--- a/xmrnodes/config.example.py
+++ b/xmrnodes/config.example.py
@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@ SECRET_KEY = os.environ.get('SECRET_KEY', 'xxxx')
 DATA_DIR = os.environ.get('DATA_DIR', './data')
 TOR_HOST = os.environ.get('TOR_HOST', '127.0.0.1')
 TOR_PORT = os.environ.get('TOR_PORT', 9050)
+NODE_HOST = os.environ.get('NODE_HOST', '127.0.0.1')
+NODE_PORT = os.environ.get('NODE_PORT', 18080)
diff --git a/xmrnodes/helpers.py b/xmrnodes/helpers.py
index c065349..180f36f 100644
--- a/xmrnodes/helpers.py
+++ b/xmrnodes/helpers.py
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+import sys
+import socket
+from levin.section import Section
+from levin.bucket import Bucket
+from levin.ctypes import *
+from levin.constants import LEVIN_SIGNATURE
 from requests import get as r_get
 from xmrnodes import config
 
@@ -47,3 +53,52 @@ def is_onion(url: str):
         return True
     else:
         return False
+
+def retrieve_peers():
+    try:
+        sock = socket.socket()
+        sock.connect((config.NODE_HOST, config.NODE_PORT))
+    except:
+        sys.stderr.write("unable to connect to %s:%d\n" % (config.NODE_HOST, config.NODE_PORT))
+        sys.exit()
+
+    bucket = Bucket.create_handshake_request()
+
+    sock.send(bucket.header())
+    sock.send(bucket.payload())
+
+    buckets = []
+    peers = []
+
+    while 1:
+        buffer = sock.recv(8)
+        if not buffer:
+            sys.stderr.write("Invalid response; exiting\n")
+            break
+
+        if not buffer.startswith(bytes(LEVIN_SIGNATURE)):
+            sys.stderr.write("Invalid response; exiting\n")
+            break
+
+        bucket = Bucket.from_buffer(signature=buffer, sock=sock)
+        buckets.append(bucket)
+
+        if bucket.command == 1001:
+            peers = bucket.get_peers() or []
+
+            for peer in peers:
+                try:
+                    print('')
+                    peers.append('http://{}:{}'.format(
+                        peer['ip'].ip, peer['port'].value
+                    ))
+                except:
+                    pass
+
+            sock.close()
+            break
+
+    if peers:
+        return peers
+    else:
+        return None