Abstract: An electrical connector has a self-retaining boardlock in which the barbs of the boardlock not only secure the electrical connector to the printed circuit board but also retain the boardlock within a boardlock retaining aperture of the electrical connector prior to connection of the electrical connector to a printed circuit board. The boardlock is preferably pressed into a molded hex nut opening of the electrical connector by fitting a tab portion of the boardlock in opposing corners of the hex opening. The other end of the boardlock has spring means with barbs thereon which protrude through the boardlock retaining aperture of the electrical connector and spring outward to retain the boardlock in the aperture during shipment of the electrical connector.