--- loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2009/05/13 01:30:49	1.1000
+++ loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2009/05/16 01:19:36	1.1001
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # TCP networking package
 #
-# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.1000 2009/05/13 01:30:49 raeburn Exp $
+# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.1001 2009/05/16 01:19:36 raeburn Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -718,7 +718,12 @@ sub spareserver {
         if ($protocol{$spare_server} eq 'https') {
             $protocol = $protocol{$spare_server};
         }
-	$spare_server = $protocol.'://'.&hostname($spare_server);
+        if (defined($spare_server)) {
+            my $hostname = &hostname($spare_server);
+            if (defined($hostname)) {  
+	        $spare_server = $protocol.'://'.$hostname;
+            }
+        }
     }
     return $spare_server;
 }