diff --git a/core/java/src/net/i2p/util/Addresses.java b/core/java/src/net/i2p/util/Addresses.java
index f0fa5a071..7b88fa25e 100644
--- a/core/java/src/net/i2p/util/Addresses.java
+++ b/core/java/src/net/i2p/util/Addresses.java
@@ -624,6 +624,7 @@ public abstract class Addresses {
         }
         if (rv == null) {
             if (isIPAddress(host)) {
+                try {
                     if (host.indexOf('.') > 0) {
                         rv = getIPv4(host);
                         if (rv == null)
@@ -633,11 +634,12 @@ public abstract class Addresses {
                         if (rv == null)
                             return null;
                     } else {
-                        return null;
+                        rv = InetAddress.getByName(host).getAddress();
                     }
                     synchronized (_IPAddress) {
                         _IPAddress.put(host, rv);
                     }
+                } catch (UnknownHostException uhe) {}
             }
         }
         return rv;