diff --git a/library/zitilib.c b/library/zitilib.c
index 73645e53..30e1b61d 100644
--- a/library/zitilib.c
+++ b/library/zitilib.c
@@ -299,6 +299,16 @@ static const char * fmt_win32err(int err) {
 }
 #endif
 
+#ifdef __MINGW32__
+static const IN_ADDR in4addr_loopback;
+static void init_in4addr_loopback() {
+    IN_ADDR *lo = (IN_ADDR *)&in4addr_loopback;
+    lo->S_un.S_addr = htonl(INADDR_LOOPBACK);
+}
+#else
+#define init_in4addr_loopback() {}
+#endif
+
 static int make_socketpair(int type, ziti_socket_t *fd0, ziti_socket_t *fd1) {
     int rc = 0;
 #if _WIN32
@@ -872,6 +882,7 @@ void process_on_loop(uv_async_t *async) {
 }
 
 static void internal_init() {
+    init_in4addr_loopback();
     uv_key_create(&err_key);
     uv_mutex_init(&q_mut);
     lib_loop = uv_loop_new();