diff --git a/irrd/__init__.py b/irrd/__init__.py
index 88007ece9..fad186567 100644
--- a/irrd/__init__.py
+++ b/irrd/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 # Note that version is also in pyproject.toml
-__version__ = "4.4-dev"
+__version__ = "4.4.0b1"
 ENV_MAIN_PROCESS_PID = "IRRD_MAIN_PROCESS_PID"
 META_KEY_HTTP_CLIENT_IP = "HTTP-Client-IP"
diff --git a/irrd/server/http/app.py b/irrd/server/http/app.py
index 8cbc9ed71..25c5a01f6 100644
--- a/irrd/server/http/app.py
+++ b/irrd/server/http/app.py
@@ -66,8 +66,13 @@ async def startup():
     try:
         app.state.database_handler = DatabaseHandler(readonly=True)
         app.state.preloader = Preloader(enable_queries=True)
+        async_redis_prefix = ""
+        if get_setting("redis_url").startswith("redis://"):
+            async_redis_prefix = "async+"
+        elif get_setting("redis_url").startswith("unix://"):
+            async_redis_prefix = "async+redis+"
         app.state.rate_limiter_storage = limits.storage.storage_from_string(
-            "async+" + get_setting("redis_url"),
+            async_redis_prefix + get_setting("redis_url"),
             protocol_version=2,
         )
         app.state.rate_limiter = limits.aio.strategies.MovingWindowRateLimiter(app.state.rate_limiter_storage)
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 8f9f4af12..2ac1bd05b 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ name = "irrd"
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "irrd"
 # Note that version is also in irrd/__init__.py
-version = "4.4-dev"
+version = "4.4.0b1"
 description = "Internet Routing Registry daemon (IRRd)"
 authors = ["Reliably Coded for NTT Ltd. and others <irrd@reliablycoded.nl>"]
 license = "BSD"