--- loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2008/09/12 21:25:54	1.968
+++ loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2008/09/29 22:49:05	1.969
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # TCP networking package
 #
-# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.968 2008/09/12 21:25:54 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.969 2008/09/29 22:49:05 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -8547,10 +8547,14 @@ sub get_dns {
 		push(@{$name_to_host{$name}}, $id);
 		$hostdom{$id}=$domain;
 		if ($role eq 'library') { $libserv{$id}=$name; }
-                if ($protocol eq 'https') {
-                    $protocol{$id} = $protocol;
+                if (defined($protocol)) {
+                    if ($protocol eq 'https') {
+                        $protocol{$id} = $protocol;
+                    } else {
+                        $protocol{$id} = 'http'; 
+                    }
                 } else {
-                    $protocol{$id} = 'http'; 
+                    $protocol{$id} = 'http';
                 }
 	    }
 	}