diff --git a/asyncqueue.c b/asyncqueue.c
index 5139c423..99df7b50 100644
--- a/asyncqueue.c
+++ b/asyncqueue.c
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ static pAsyncQueue AQ_Create(const char* host, const char* port)
   self = (pAsyncQueue) FindCommandData(pServ->pSics, host, "AsyncQueue");
 
   /* try host and port */
-  if (self == NULL) {
+  if (self == NULL && port) {
     int port_no = atoi(port);
     if (port_no == 0) {
       struct servent *sp=NULL;