--- a/skkserv/skkserv.c
+++ b/skkserv/skkserv.c
@@ -723,7 +723,11 @@
     fprintf(errout, "%s:cannot get hostname, or too long hostname\n", pgmnm);
     exit(1);
   }
-  hentry = gethostbyname(hname);
+  if ((hentry = gethostbyname(hname)) == NULL
+       && (hentry = gethostbyname("localhost")) == NULL) {
+    perror("gethostbyname");
+    exit(1);
+  }
 #ifdef NO_ADDR_LIST
   strcat(hname, ":");
   strcat(hname, hentry->h_addr);