--- a/whois.c
+++ b/whois.c
@@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ int openconn(const char *server, const c
     hints.ai_flags |= AI_IDN;
 #endif
 
-    if ((err = getaddrinfo(server, port ? port : "nicname", &hints, &res))
+    if ((err = getaddrinfo(server, port ? port : "43", &hints, &res))
 	    != 0) {
 	if (err == EAI_SYSTEM)
 	    err_sys("getaddrinfo(%s)", server);