diff --git a/src/allmydata/storage/http_client.py b/src/allmydata/storage/http_client.py
index 3edf5f835..1d798fecc 100644
--- a/src/allmydata/storage/http_client.py
+++ b/src/allmydata/storage/http_client.py
@@ -311,21 +311,18 @@ class StorageClient(object):
 
     @classmethod
     def from_nurl(
-        cls, nurl: DecodedURL, reactor, persistent=True, retryAutomatically=True
+        cls, nurl: DecodedURL, reactor, pool: Optional[HTTPConnectionPool] = None
     ) -> StorageClient:
         """
         Create a ``StorageClient`` for the given NURL.
-
-        ``persistent`` and ``retryAutomatically`` arguments are passed to the
-        new HTTPConnectionPool.
         """
         assert nurl.fragment == "v=1"
         assert nurl.scheme == "pb"
         swissnum = nurl.path[0].encode("ascii")
         certificate_hash = nurl.user.encode("ascii")
-        pool = HTTPConnectionPool(reactor, persistent=persistent)
-        pool.retryAutomatically = retryAutomatically
-        pool.maxPersistentPerHost = 20
+        if pool is None:
+            pool = HTTPConnectionPool(reactor)
+            pool.maxPersistentPerHost = 20
 
         if cls.TEST_MODE_REGISTER_HTTP_POOL is not None:
             cls.TEST_MODE_REGISTER_HTTP_POOL(pool)
diff --git a/src/allmydata/storage_client.py b/src/allmydata/storage_client.py
index 2888b10e7..19d6ef4a7 100644
--- a/src/allmydata/storage_client.py
+++ b/src/allmydata/storage_client.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ from configparser import NoSectionError
 
 import attr
 from hyperlink import DecodedURL
+from twisted.web.client import HTTPConnectionPool
 from zope.interface import (
     Attribute,
     Interface,
@@ -1205,10 +1206,10 @@ class HTTPNativeStorageServer(service.MultiService):
             def request(reactor, nurl: DecodedURL):
                 # Since we're just using this one off to check if the NURL
                 # works, no need for persistent pool or other fanciness.
+                pool = HTTPConnectionPool(reactor, persistent=False)
+                pool.retryAutomatically = False
                 return StorageClientGeneral(
-                    StorageClient.from_nurl(
-                        nurl, reactor, persistent=False, retryAutomatically=False
-                    )
+                    StorageClient.from_nurl(nurl, reactor, pool)
                 ).get_version()
 
             # LoopingCall.stop() doesn't cancel Deferreds, unfortunately: