diff --git a/bb8/src/api.rs b/bb8/src/api.rs
index 794d58d..f0d1b82 100644
--- a/bb8/src/api.rs
+++ b/bb8/src/api.rs
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ pub struct Builder<M: ManageConnection> {
     pub(crate) idle_timeout: Option<Duration>,
     /// The duration to wait to start a connection before giving up.
     pub(crate) connection_timeout: Duration,
+    /// Enable/disable automatic retries on connection creation.
+    pub(crate) retry_connection: bool,
     /// The error sink.
     pub(crate) error_sink: Box<dyn ErrorSink<M::Error>>,
     /// The time interval used to wake up and reap connections.
@@ -107,6 +109,7 @@ impl<M: ManageConnection> Default for Builder<M> {
             max_lifetime: Some(Duration::from_secs(30 * 60)),
             idle_timeout: Some(Duration::from_secs(10 * 60)),
             connection_timeout: Duration::from_secs(30),
+            retry_connection: true,
             error_sink: Box::new(NopErrorSink),
             reaper_rate: Duration::from_secs(30),
             connection_customizer: None,
@@ -225,6 +228,20 @@ impl<M: ManageConnection> Builder<M> {
         self
     }
 
+    /// Instructs the pool to automatically retry connection creation if it fails, until the `connection_timeout` has expired.
+    ///
+    /// Useful for transient connectivity errors like temporary DNS resolution failure
+    /// or intermittent network failures. Some applications however are smart enough to
+    /// know that the server is down and retries won't help (and could actually hurt recovery).
+    /// In that case, it's better to disable retries here and let the pool error out.
+    ///
+    /// Defaults to enabled.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn retry_connection(mut self, retry: bool) -> Self {
+        self.retry_connection = retry;
+        self
+    }
+
     /// Set the sink for errors that are not associated with any particular operation
     /// on the pool. This can be used to log and monitor failures.
     ///
diff --git a/bb8/src/inner.rs b/bb8/src/inner.rs
index 71f6ab8..d206d9e 100644
--- a/bb8/src/inner.rs
+++ b/bb8/src/inner.rs
@@ -212,7 +212,9 @@ where
                     return Ok(());
                 }
                 Err(e) => {
-                    if Instant::now() - start > self.inner.statics.connection_timeout {
+                    if !self.inner.statics.retry_connection
+                        || Instant::now() - start > self.inner.statics.connection_timeout
+                    {
                         let mut locked = shared.internals.lock();
                         locked.connect_failed(approval);
                         return Err(e);