Index: /trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/mapmode/DrawAction.java
===================================================================
--- /trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/mapmode/DrawAction.java	(revision 374)
+++ /trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/mapmode/DrawAction.java	(revision 375)
@@ -128,8 +128,10 @@
 		}
 		boolean extendedWay = false;
+		// shift modifier never connects, just makes new node
 		if (!shift && selection.size() == 1 && selection.iterator().next() instanceof Node) {
 			Node n0 = (Node) selection.iterator().next();
 
-			Way way = getWayForNode(n0);
+			// alt modifier makes connection to selected node but not existing way
+			Way way = alt ? null : getWayForNode(n0);
 			if (way == null) {
 				way = new Way();
@@ -215,5 +217,5 @@
 	
 	@Override public String getModeHelpText() {
-		return "Click to add a new node. Ctrl to disable node re-use/auto-insert. Shift to disable auto-connect.";
+		return "Click to add a new node. Ctrl: no node re-use/auto-insert. Shift: no auto-connect. Alt: new way";
 	}
 }