diff --git a/gopher.go b/gopher.go
index 56d3fd6..4173fb0 100644
--- a/gopher.go
+++ b/gopher.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"net/url"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -31,7 +32,12 @@ func initGopher(apper Apper) {
 
 // Utility function to strip the URL from the hostname provided by app.cfg.App.Host
 func stripHostProtocol(app *App) string {
-	return string(regexp.MustCompile("^.*://").ReplaceAll([]byte(app.cfg.App.Host), []byte("")))
+	u, err := url.Parse(app.cfg.App.Host)
+	if err != nil {
+		// Fall back to host, with scheme stripped
+		return string(regexp.MustCompile("^.*://").ReplaceAll([]byte(app.cfg.App.Host), []byte("")))
+	}
+	return u.Hostname()
 }
 
 func handleGopher(app *App, w gopher.ResponseWriter, r *gopher.Request) error {