diff --git a/bleak/__init__.py b/bleak/__init__.py
index f37f1058..26065c2a 100644
--- a/bleak/__init__.py
+++ b/bleak/__init__.py
@@ -357,6 +357,8 @@ class BleakClient:
         backend:
             Used to override the automatically selected backend (i.e. for a
             custom backend).
+        skip_service_discovery:
+            Do not perform automatic GATT service discovery in :meth:`connect`.
         **kwargs:
             Additional keyword arguments for backwards compatibility.
 
@@ -389,6 +391,7 @@ def __init__(
         timeout: float = 10.0,
         winrt: WinRTClientArgs = {},
         backend: Optional[Type[BaseBleakClient]] = None,
+        skip_service_discovery: bool = False,
         **kwargs,
     ):
         PlatformBleakClient = (
@@ -400,6 +403,7 @@ def __init__(
             disconnected_callback=disconnected_callback,
             timeout=timeout,
             winrt=winrt,
+            skip_service_discovery=skip_service_discovery,
             **kwargs,
         )
 
diff --git a/bleak/backends/bluezdbus/client.py b/bleak/backends/bluezdbus/client.py
index c0f57e38..ac622aab 100644
--- a/bleak/backends/bluezdbus/client.py
+++ b/bleak/backends/bluezdbus/client.py
@@ -219,13 +219,11 @@ def on_value_changed(char_path: str, value: bytes) -> None:
                     )
                 )
 
-                #
-                # We will try to use the cache if it exists and `dangerous_use_bleak_cache`
-                # is True.
-                #
-                await self.get_services(
-                    dangerous_use_bleak_cache=dangerous_use_bleak_cache
-                )
+                if not self._skip_service_discovery:
+                    # We will try to use the cache if it exists and `dangerous_use_bleak_cache` is True.
+                    await self.get_services(
+                        dangerous_use_bleak_cache=dangerous_use_bleak_cache
+                    )
 
                 return True
             except BaseException:
diff --git a/bleak/backends/client.py b/bleak/backends/client.py
index c303c2f2..32ef034b 100644
--- a/bleak/backends/client.py
+++ b/bleak/backends/client.py
@@ -35,14 +35,21 @@ class BaseBleakClient(abc.ABC):
         disconnected_callback (callable): Callback that will be scheduled in the
             event loop when the client is disconnected. The callable must take one
             argument, which will be this client object.
+        skip_service_discovery (bool): Do not perform automatic GATT service discovery in :meth:`connect`.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, address_or_ble_device: Union[BLEDevice, str], **kwargs):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        address_or_ble_device: Union[BLEDevice, str],
+        skip_service_discovery: bool = False,
+        **kwargs,
+    ):
         if isinstance(address_or_ble_device, BLEDevice):
             self.address = address_or_ble_device.address
         else:
             self.address = address_or_ble_device
 
+        self._skip_service_discovery = skip_service_discovery
         self._services: Optional[BleakGATTServiceCollection] = None
 
         self._timeout = kwargs.get("timeout", 10.0)
diff --git a/bleak/backends/corebluetooth/client.py b/bleak/backends/corebluetooth/client.py
index d1481cc9..74981d58 100644
--- a/bleak/backends/corebluetooth/client.py
+++ b/bleak/backends/corebluetooth/client.py
@@ -113,7 +113,8 @@ def disconnect_callback():
         await manager.connect(self._peripheral, disconnect_callback, timeout=timeout)
 
         # Now get services
-        await self.get_services()
+        if not self._skip_service_discovery:
+            await self.get_services()
 
         return True
 
diff --git a/bleak/backends/p4android/client.py b/bleak/backends/p4android/client.py
index 201ac17c..498835c1 100644
--- a/bleak/backends/p4android/client.py
+++ b/bleak/backends/p4android/client.py
@@ -100,14 +100,9 @@ async def connect(self, **kwargs) -> bool:
                 resultApi="onMtuChanged",
             )
 
-            logger.debug("discovering services...")
-            await self.__callbacks.perform_and_wait(
-                dispatchApi=self.__gatt.discoverServices,
-                dispatchParams=(),
-                resultApi="onServicesDiscovered",
-            )
+            if not self._skip_service_discovery:
+                await self.get_services()
 
-            await self.get_services()
         except BaseException:
             # if connecting is canceled or one of the above fails, we need to
             # disconnect
@@ -248,6 +243,13 @@ async def get_services(self) -> BleakGATTServiceCollection:
         if self._services:
             return self._services
 
+        logger.debug("Discovering services...")
+        await self.__callbacks.perform_and_wait(
+            dispatchApi=self.__gatt.discoverServices,
+            dispatchParams=(),
+            resultApi="onServicesDiscovered",
+        )
+
         services = BleakGATTServiceCollection()
 
         logger.debug("Get Services...")