diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f05a481..0095419 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,20 +22,20 @@ A brief example:
 var portscanner = require('portscanner')
 
 // Checks the status of a single port
-portscanner.checkPortStatus(3000, 'localhost', function(error, status) {
+portscanner.checkPortStatus(3000, '127.0.0.1', function(error, status) {
   // Status is 'open' if currently in use or 'closed' if available
   console.log(status)
 })
 
 // Find the first available port. Asynchronously checks, so first port
 // determined as available is returned.
-portscanner.findAPortNotInUse(3000, 3010, 'localhost', function(error, port) {
+portscanner.findAPortNotInUse(3000, 3010, '127.0.0.1', function(error, port) {
   console.log('AVAILABLE PORT AT: ' + port)
 })
 
 // Find the first port in use or blocked. Asynchronously checks, so first port
 // to respond is returned.
-portscanner.findAPortInUse(3000, 3010, 'localhost', function(error, port) {
+portscanner.findAPortInUse(3000, 3010, '127.0.0.1', function(error, port) {
   console.log('PORT IN USE AT: ' + port)
 })
 ```
diff --git a/example/portscan.js b/example/portscan.js
index b04f08a..1ab560d 100644
--- a/example/portscan.js
+++ b/example/portscan.js
@@ -5,27 +5,27 @@ var http        = require('http')
 var server = http.createServer(function (request, response) {
 
 })
-server.listen(3005, 'localhost', function() {
+server.listen(3005, '127.0.0.1', function() {
 
   // Checks the status of an individual port.
-  portscanner.checkPortStatus(3005, 'localhost', function(error, status) {
+  portscanner.checkPortStatus(3005, '127.0.0.1', function(error, status) {
     // Status should be 'open' since the HTTP server is listening on that port
     console.log('Status at port 3005 is ' + status)
   })
 
-  portscanner.checkPortStatus(3000, 'localhost', function(error, status) {
+  portscanner.checkPortStatus(3000, '127.0.0.1', function(error, status) {
     // Status should be 'closed' since no service is listening on that port.
     console.log('Status at port 3000 is ' + status)
   })
 
   // Finds a port that a service is listening on
-  portscanner.findAPortInUse(3000, 3010, 'localhost', function(error, port) {
+  portscanner.findAPortInUse(3000, 3010, '127.0.0.1', function(error, port) {
     // Port should be 3005 as the HTTP server is listening on that port
     console.log('Found an open port at ' + port)
   })
 
   // Finds a port no service is listening on
-  portscanner.findAPortNotInUse(3000, 3010, 'localhost', function(error, port) {
+  portscanner.findAPortNotInUse(3000, 3010, '127.0.0.1', function(error, port) {
     // Will return any number between 3000 and 3010 (inclusive), that's not 3005.
     // The order is unknown as the port status checks are asynchronous.
     console.log('Found a closed port at ' + port)
diff --git a/lib/portscanner.js b/lib/portscanner.js
index fab9f13..db5aa5c 100644
--- a/lib/portscanner.js
+++ b/lib/portscanner.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ var portscanner = exports
  * @param {Number} startPort  - Port to begin status check on (inclusive).
  * @param {Number} endPort    - Last port to check status on (inclusive).
  *                              Defaults to 65535.
- * @param {String} host       - Where to scan. Defaults to 'localhost'.
+ * @param {String} host       - Where to scan. Defaults to '127.0.0.1'.
  * @param {Function} callback - function (error, port) { ... }
  *   - {Object|null} error    - Any errors that occurred while port scanning.
  *   - {Number|Boolean} port  - The first open port found. Note, this is the
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ portscanner.findAPortInUse = function(startPort, endPort, host, callback) {
  * @param {Number} startPort  - Port to begin status check on (inclusive).
  * @param {Number} endPort    - Last port to check status on (inclusive).
  *                              Defaults to 65535.
- * @param {String} host       - Where to scan. Defaults to 'localhost'.
+ * @param {String} host       - Where to scan. Defaults to '127.0.0.1'.
  * @param {Function} callback - function (error, port) { ... }
  *   - {Object|null} error    - Any errors that occurred while port scanning.
  *   - {Number|Boolean} port  - The first closed port found. Note, this is the
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ portscanner.findAPortNotInUse = function(startPort, endPort, host, callback) {
  *
  * @param {Number} port           - Port to check status on.
  * @param {String|Object} options - host or options
- *   - {String} host              - Host of where to scan. Defaults to 'localhost'.
+ *   - {String} host              - Host of where to scan. Defaults to '127.0.0.1'.
  *   - {Object} options
- *     - {String} host            - Host of where to scan. Defaults to 'localhost'.
+ *     - {String} host            - Host of where to scan. Defaults to '127.0.0.1'.
  *     - {Number} timeout         - Connection timeout. Defaults to 400ms.
  * @param {Function} callback     - function (error, port) { ... }
  *   - {Object|null} error        - Any errors that occurred while port scanning.
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ portscanner.checkPortStatus = function(port, options, callback) {
     options = {host: options}
   }
 
-  var host = options.host || 'localhost'
+  var host = options.host || '127.0.0.1'
   var timeout = options.timeout || 400
 
   var socket = new Socket()