diff --git a/config/connection.ini b/config/connection.ini
index 96e0cc37b..cde880cac 100644
--- a/config/connection.ini
+++ b/config/connection.ini
@@ -9,13 +9,12 @@
 
 
 [haproxy]
-; Arrays: hosts that Haraka should enable the PROXY protocol from.
-hosts_ipv4[] =
-hosts_ipv4[] = 192.0.2.4
-hosts_ipv4[] = 192.0.2.5
-hosts_ipv6[] =
-hosts_ipv6[] = [2001:db8::1]
-hosts_ipv6[] = [2001:db8::2]
+; Array: hosts or CIDRs that Haraka should enable the PROXY protocol from. See docs/HAProxy for format
+hosts[] =
+; hosts[] = 192.0.2.4
+; hosts[] = 192.0.2.5
+; hosts[] = [2001:db8::1]
+; hosts[] = [2001:db8::2]
 
 
 [headers]
diff --git a/connection.js b/connection.js
index 40dfd0929..c5b8d746e 100644
--- a/connection.js
+++ b/connection.js
@@ -34,6 +34,19 @@ const cfg = config.get('connection.ini', {
     ]
 });
 
+const haproxy_hosts_ipv4 = [];
+const haproxy_hosts_ipv6 = [];
+
+for (let ip of cfg.haproxy.hosts) {
+    if (!ip) continue;
+    if (net.isIPv6(ip.split('/')[0])) {
+        haproxy_hosts_ipv6.push([ipaddr.IPv6.parse(ip.split('/')[0]), parseInt(ip.split('/')[1] || 64)]);
+    }
+    else {
+        haproxy_hosts_ipv4.push([ipaddr.IPv4.parse(ip.split('/')[0]), parseInt(ip.split('/')[1] || 32)]);
+    }
+}
+
 class Connection {
     constructor (client, server, smtp_cfg) {
         this.client = client;
@@ -178,8 +191,10 @@ class Connection {
             self.process_data(data);
         });
 
-        const ha_list = net.isIPv6(self.remote.ip) ? cfg.haproxy.hosts_ipv6 : cfg.haproxy.hosts_ipv4;
-        if (ha_list.includes(self.remote.ip)) {
+        const ha_list = net.isIPv6(self.remote.ip) ? haproxy_hosts_ipv6 : haproxy_hosts_ipv4;
+        if (ha_list.some((element, index, array) => {
+            return ipaddr.parse(self.remote.ip).match(element[0], element[1]);
+        })) {
             self.proxy.allowed = true;
             // Wait for PROXY command
             self.proxy.timer = setTimeout(() => {
diff --git a/docs/HAProxy.md b/docs/HAProxy.md
index 6f932c3e4..eb214b927 100644
--- a/docs/HAProxy.md
+++ b/docs/HAProxy.md
@@ -1,34 +1,20 @@
-HAProxy PROXY protocol extension support
-========================================
+# HAProxy PROXY protocol extension support
 
-Haraka natively supports the PROXY protocol [1].
+Haraka supports PROXY protocol [1].
 
-This allows an upstream proxy to pass IP address and port of the client which
-Haraka will use instead of the socket IP address (which is of the proxy).
-This allows DNSBLs and access control lists to operate on the proxied address.
+This allows an upstream proxy to pass the IP address and port of the remote client. Haraka will use the remote IP instead of the socket IP address (which is the proxy). This allows DNSBLs and access control lists to use the correct source address.
 
-Support is disabled by default and if HAProxy or other attempts to send a
-PROXY command then Haraka will return a DENYSOFTDISCONNECT error.
-DENYSOFT is used to prevent configuration errors from rejecting valid mail.
+Support is disabled by default. Attempts to send a PROXY command will return a DENYSOFTDISCONNECT error. DENYSOFT is used to prevent configuration errors from rejecting valid mail.
 
-To enable support for PROXY you must create a `haproxy_hosts` configuration
-file which should contain a list of IP addresses of the HAProxy hosts
-that should be allowed to send the PROXY command. A range of IP
-addresses can be specified by it's CIDR network address.
+To enable support for PROXY you must populate connection.ini[haproxy]hosts[] with the IP addresses of the HAProxy hosts that MUST send the PROXY command. Ranges can be specified with CIDR notation.
 
-When a host connects to Haraka that matches an IP address present in the
-`haproxy_hosts` file - a banner is not sent, instead Haraka waits for the
-PROXY command to be sent before proceeding.  The connection will timeout
-with `421 PROXY timed out` if the command is not sent within 30 seconds.
+When a proxy host connects to Haraka, a banner is not sent. Instead Haraka awaits the PROXY command. The connection will timeout with `421 PROXY timed out` if the command is not sent within 30 seconds.
 
-NOTE: because Haraka does not send a banner when a listed HAProxy host
-connects you must set check-send-proxy to ensure that the service checks
-send a PROXY command before they run.
+NOTE: because Haraka does not send a banner when a listed HAProxy host connects you must set check-send-proxy to ensure that the service checks send a PROXY command before they run.
 
 [1] http://haproxy.1wt.eu/download/1.5/doc/proxy-protocol.txt
 
-HAProxy supports the PROXY protocol in version 1.5 or later however there
-are patches available to add support for 1.4.
+HAProxy supports the PROXY protocol in version 1.5 or later.
 
 Here is an example listener section for haproxy.cfg:
 
@@ -45,13 +31,9 @@ listen smtp :25
         server smtp5 ip.of.haraka.server5:25 check-send-proxy check inter 10s send-proxy
 ```
 
-The important part is `send-proxy` which causes HAProxy to send the PROXY
-extension on connection.
+The important part is `send-proxy` which causes HAProxy to send the PROXY extension on connection.
 
-When using `option smtpchk` you will see CONNRESET errors reported in the Haraka logs as
-smtpchk drops the connection before the HELO response is still being written.
-You can use the `option tcp-check` instead to provide a better service check by having
-the check wait for the banner, send QUIT and then check the response:
+When using `option smtpchk` you will see CONNRESET errors reported in the Haraka logs as smtpchk drops the connection before the HELO response is still being written. You can use the `option tcp-check` instead to provide a better service check by having the check wait for the banner, send QUIT and then check the response:
 
 ```
         option tcp-check