diff --git a/core/sip/resolver.h b/core/sip/resolver.h
index 857ab8ba..5b1b9b76 100644
--- a/core/sip/resolver.h
+++ b/core/sip/resolver.h
@@ -144,6 +144,10 @@ public:
 	       const address_type types);
 
     
+    int str2ip(const char* name,
+	       sockaddr_storage* sa,
+	       const address_type types);
+
 protected:
     _resolver();
     ~_resolver();
diff --git a/core/sip/trans_layer.cpp b/core/sip/trans_layer.cpp
index f1234ac1..a731138d 100644
--- a/core/sip/trans_layer.cpp
+++ b/core/sip/trans_layer.cpp
@@ -714,7 +714,18 @@ int _trans_layer::set_next_hop(sip_msg* msg,
 
 int _trans_layer::set_destination_ip(sip_msg* msg, cstring* next_hop, unsigned short next_port)
 {
+
     string nh = c2stlstr(*next_hop);
+
+    if (resolver::instance()->str2ip(nh.c_str(), &(msg->remote_ip), IPv4) == 1) {
+	// already a valid IP address
+	if (!next_port)
+	    ((sockaddr_in*)&(msg->remote_ip))->sin_port = htons(5060);
+	else
+	    ((sockaddr_in*)&(msg->remote_ip))->sin_port = htons(next_port);
+
+	return 0;
+    }
     
     if(!next_port){
 	// no explicit port specified,