diff --git a/src/config.cpp b/src/config.cpp
index e2fe10e..11aa2e5 100644
--- a/src/config.cpp
+++ b/src/config.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ void split_addr_into(const char* name, std::vector<std::string>& out, const std:
 {
     size_t pos=0u;
 
+    // parse, resolve host names, then re-print.
+    // Catch syntax errors early, and normalize prior to removing duplicates
     while(pos<inp.size()) {
         auto start = inp.find_first_not_of(" \t\r\n", pos);
         auto end = inp.find_first_of(" \t\r\n", start);
@@ -52,6 +54,11 @@ void split_addr_into(const char* name, std::vector<std::string>& out, const std:
             out.emplace_back(strm.str());
         }
     }
+
+    // remove any duplicates
+    std::sort(out.begin(), out.end());
+    out.erase(std::unique(out.begin(), out.end()),
+              out.end());
 }
 
 std::string join_addr(const std::vector<std::string>& in)
diff --git a/test/testconfig.cpp b/test/testconfig.cpp
index e8ca193..437129e 100644
--- a/test/testconfig.cpp
+++ b/test/testconfig.cpp
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ void testDefs()
         testEq(conf.udp_port, 1234);
         testFalse(conf.autoAddrList);
         testEq(conf.addressList, std::vector<std::string>({"1.2.1.2:1234", "4.3.2.1:1234"}));
-        testEq(conf.interfaces, std::vector<std::string>({"1.2.3.4", "1.1.1.1"}));
+        testEq(conf.interfaces, std::vector<std::string>({"1.1.1.1", "1.2.3.4"}));
     }
 
     {
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ void testDefs()
         testEq(conf.tcp_port, 5678);
         testFalse(conf.auto_beacon);
         testEq(conf.beaconDestinations, std::vector<std::string>({"1.2.1.2:1234", "4.3.2.1:1234"}));
-        testEq(conf.interfaces, std::vector<std::string>({"1.2.3.4:5678", "1.1.1.1:5678"}));
+        testEq(conf.interfaces, std::vector<std::string>({"1.1.1.1:5678", "1.2.3.4:5678"}));
     }
 }