diff --git a/src/misc.c b/src/misc.c
index 205f47cae..bfe5d2ad7 100644
--- a/src/misc.c
+++ b/src/misc.c
@@ -1636,6 +1636,7 @@ int HAMLIB_API parse_hoststr(char *hoststr, char host[256], char port[6])
 
     // Handle device names 1st
     if (strstr(hoststr, "/dev")) { return -1; }
+    if (strstr(hoststr, "/")) { return -1; } // posible path -- no hostname starts with /
 
     if (strncasecmp(hoststr, "com", 3) == 0) { return -1; }