diff --git a/requests/models.py b/requests/models.py
index d8c0f3e8..44bf5818 100644
--- a/requests/models.py
+++ b/requests/models.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ This module contains the primary objects that power Requests.
 """
 
 import os
+import socket
 from datetime import datetime
 
 from .hooks import dispatch_hook, HOOKS
@@ -608,6 +609,9 @@ class Request(object):
                 )
                 self.sent = True
 
+            except socket.error as sockerr:
+                raise ConnectionError(sockerr)
+
             except MaxRetryError as e:
                 raise ConnectionError(e)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_requests.py b/tests/test_requests.py
index dd08b2af..0a52c4c3 100755
--- a/tests/test_requests.py
+++ b/tests/test_requests.py
@@ -811,6 +811,20 @@ class RequestsTestSuite(TestSetup, TestBaseMixin, unittest.TestCase):
         assert ds1.prefetch
         assert not ds2.prefetch
 
+    def test_connection_error(self):
+        try:
+            get('http://localhost:1/nope')
+        except requests.ConnectionError:
+            pass
+        else:
+            assert False
+
+    def test_connection_error_with_safe_mode(self):
+        config = {'safe_mode': True}
+        r = get('http://localhost:1/nope', allow_redirects=False, config=config)
+        assert r.content == None
+
+
     # def test_invalid_content(self):
     #     # WARNING: if you're using a terrible DNS provider (comcast),
     #     # this will fail.