diff --git a/gun.js b/gun.js
index bc12ff7d..6936b930 100644
--- a/gun.js
+++ b/gun.js
@@ -2237,7 +2237,7 @@
 
 		// Ensure the protocol is correct.
 		Client.formatURL = function (url) {
-			return url.replace('http', 'ws');
+			return url.replace(/^http/, 'ws');
 		};
 
 		// Send a message to a group of peers.
@@ -2457,4 +2457,4 @@
 		module.exports = Client;
 	})(require, './polyfill/request');
 
-}());
\ No newline at end of file
+}());
diff --git a/lib/wsp/Peer.js b/lib/wsp/Peer.js
index 11f1069c..2b9dffed 100644
--- a/lib/wsp/Peer.js
+++ b/lib/wsp/Peer.js
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ function Peer (url, options) {
 Peer.formatURL = function (url) {
 
 	// Works for `https` and `wss` URLs, too.
-	return url.replace('http', 'ws');
+	return url.replace(/^http/, 'ws');
 };
 
 util.inherits(Peer, Emitter);