diff --git a/syncedprot.c b/syncedprot.c
index 743882a3..3bafff40 100644
--- a/syncedprot.c
+++ b/syncedprot.c
@@ -385,13 +385,15 @@ static void SyncedKillPrivate(void *private) {
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 static int SyncedProtInit(Ascon * a, SConnection * con, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-  if (argc == 2) {
-    a->timeout = atof(argv[1]);
-  } else if (argc > 2) {
-    /* a dummy hostport is used */
-    a->timeout = atof(argv[2]);
+  a->timeout = 0.0;
+  if (argc > 1) {
+    /* a dummy hostport is used, here a unique name should be given */
+    a->hostport = strdup(argv[1]);
+    if (argc > 2) {
+      a->timeout = atof(argv[2]);
+    }
   } else {
-    a->timeout = 0.0;
+    a->hostport = strdup("synced"); /* WARNING: this name is not unique, but used by Marks new Task manager */
   }
   a->private = calloc(1, sizeof(long));
   a->killPrivate = SyncedKillPrivate;
diff --git a/syncedprot.h b/syncedprot.h
index 7da5ac35..f2097cd6 100644
--- a/syncedprot.h
+++ b/syncedprot.h
@@ -55,4 +55,5 @@ long SyncedGet(void);
  */
 int SyncedPending(long syncid);
 
-#endif
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif
+