diff --git a/lib/util/createDomain.js b/lib/util/createDomain.js
index df7867b4b0..bc0d329e87 100644
--- a/lib/util/createDomain.js
+++ b/lib/util/createDomain.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ module.exports = function createDomain(options, listeningApp) {
   const protocol = options.https ? 'https' : 'http';
   const appPort = listeningApp ? listeningApp.address().port : 0;
   const port = options.socket ? 0 : appPort;
-  const hostname = options.useLocalIp ? internalIp.v4() : options.host;
+  const hostname = options.useLocalIp ? internalIp.v4() : options.host || 'localhost';
 
   // the formatted domain (url without path) of the webpack server
   return options.public ? `${protocol}://${options.public}` : url.format({