diff --git a/src/net.cc b/src/net.cc
index f17ba834313..347de15a3bf 100644
--- a/src/net.cc
+++ b/src/net.cc
@@ -435,14 +435,14 @@ Acceptor::v8Listen (const Arguments& args)
   if (args.Length() < 1)
     return ThrowException(String::New("Must give at least a port as argument."));
 
-  char *host = NULL;
 
   HandleScope scope;
   String::AsciiValue port(args[0]->ToString());
 
+  char *host = NULL;
   if (args[1]->IsString()) {
     String::Utf8Value host_sv(args[1]->ToString());
-    host = *host_sv;
+    host = strdup(*host_sv);
   }
 
   // For servers call getaddrinfo inline. This is blocking but it shouldn't
@@ -453,6 +453,8 @@ Acceptor::v8Listen (const Arguments& args)
   if (r != 0) 
     return ThrowException(String::New(strerror(errno)));
 
+  free(host);
+
   acceptor->Listen(address);
   return Undefined();
 }