diff --git a/hooks/utils.py b/hooks/utils.py
index b8e16623..dc4a9379 100644
--- a/hooks/utils.py
+++ b/hooks/utils.py
@@ -49,8 +49,10 @@ def enable_pocket(pocket):
                 sources.write(line)
 
 
-def get_host_ip(hostname=unit_get('private-address')):
+def get_host_ip(hostname=None):
     try:
+        if not hostname:
+            hostname=unit_get('private-address')
         # Test to see if already an IPv4 address
         socket.inet_aton(hostname)
         return hostname