diff --git a/lib/statsd.js b/lib/statsd.js
index f27383b..4618a19 100644
--- a/lib/statsd.js
+++ b/lib/statsd.js
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ var Client = function (host, port, prefix, suffix, globalize, cacheDns, mock, gl
     dns.lookup(options.host, function(err, address, family){
       if(err == null){
         self.host = address;
+      } else {
+        throw new Error(err);
       }
     });
   }