diff --git a/src/engine/client/client.cpp b/src/engine/client/client.cpp
index 909782efb..ee4d1f19b 100644
--- a/src/engine/client/client.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/client/client.cpp
@@ -3017,16 +3017,16 @@ void CClient::Run()
 	// open socket
 	{
 		NETADDR BindAddr;
-		if(g_Config.m_Bindaddr[0] && net_host_lookup(g_Config.m_Bindaddr, &BindAddr, NETTYPE_ALL) == 0)
-		{
-			// got bindaddr
-			BindAddr.type = NETTYPE_ALL;
-		}
-		else
+		if(g_Config.m_Bindaddr[0] == '\0')
 		{
 			mem_zero(&BindAddr, sizeof(BindAddr));
-			BindAddr.type = NETTYPE_ALL;
 		}
+		else if(net_host_lookup(g_Config.m_Bindaddr, &BindAddr, NETTYPE_ALL) != 0)
+		{
+			dbg_msg("client", "The configured bindaddr '%s' cannot be resolved", g_Config.m_Bindaddr);
+			return;
+		}
+		BindAddr.type = NETTYPE_ALL;
 		for(unsigned int i = 0; i < std::size(m_aNetClient); i++)
 		{
 			int &PortRef = i == CONN_MAIN ? g_Config.m_ClPort : i == CONN_DUMMY ? g_Config.m_ClDummyPort : g_Config.m_ClContactPort;
diff --git a/src/engine/server/server.cpp b/src/engine/server/server.cpp
index 766cd9236..8f3159143 100644
--- a/src/engine/server/server.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/server/server.cpp
@@ -2568,12 +2568,16 @@ int CServer::Run()
 
 	// start server
 	NETADDR BindAddr;
-	int NetType = Config()->m_SvIpv4Only ? NETTYPE_IPV4 : NETTYPE_ALL;
-
-	if(!Config()->m_Bindaddr[0] || net_host_lookup(Config()->m_Bindaddr, &BindAddr, NetType) != 0)
+	if(g_Config.m_Bindaddr[0] == '\0')
+	{
 		mem_zero(&BindAddr, sizeof(BindAddr));
-
-	BindAddr.type = NetType;
+	}
+	else if(net_host_lookup(g_Config.m_Bindaddr, &BindAddr, NETTYPE_ALL) != 0)
+	{
+		dbg_msg("server", "The configured bindaddr '%s' cannot be resolved", g_Config.m_Bindaddr);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	BindAddr.type = Config()->m_SvIpv4Only ? NETTYPE_IPV4 : NETTYPE_ALL;
 
 	int Port = Config()->m_SvPort;
 	for(BindAddr.port = Port != 0 ? Port : 8303; !m_NetServer.Open(BindAddr, &m_ServerBan, Config()->m_SvMaxClients, Config()->m_SvMaxClientsPerIP); BindAddr.port++)
diff --git a/src/engine/shared/econ.cpp b/src/engine/shared/econ.cpp
index 795520a9b..7a00362cf 100644
--- a/src/engine/shared/econ.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/shared/econ.cpp
@@ -64,18 +64,18 @@ void CEcon::Init(CConfig *pConfig, IConsole *pConsole, CNetBan *pNetBan)
 		return;
 
 	NETADDR BindAddr;
-	if(g_Config.m_EcBindaddr[0] && net_host_lookup(g_Config.m_EcBindaddr, &BindAddr, NETTYPE_ALL) == 0)
-	{
-		// got bindaddr
-		BindAddr.type = NETTYPE_ALL;
-		BindAddr.port = g_Config.m_EcPort;
-	}
-	else
+	if(g_Config.m_EcBindaddr[0] == '\0')
 	{
 		mem_zero(&BindAddr, sizeof(BindAddr));
-		BindAddr.type = NETTYPE_ALL;
-		BindAddr.port = g_Config.m_EcPort;
 	}
+	else if(net_host_lookup(g_Config.m_EcBindaddr, &BindAddr, NETTYPE_ALL) != 0)
+	{
+		char aBuf[256];
+		str_format(aBuf, sizeof(aBuf), "The configured bindaddr '%s' cannot be resolved.", g_Config.m_Bindaddr);
+		Console()->Print(IConsole::OUTPUT_LEVEL_STANDARD, "econ", aBuf);
+	}
+	BindAddr.type = NETTYPE_ALL;
+	BindAddr.port = g_Config.m_EcPort;
 
 	if(m_NetConsole.Open(BindAddr, pNetBan))
 	{