diff --git a/daemon/core/face-uri.cpp b/daemon/core/face-uri.cpp
index 0a3f1d4..cc6c8c8 100644
--- a/daemon/core/face-uri.cpp
+++ b/daemon/core/face-uri.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 
   boost::regex v6Exp("^\\[(([a-fA-F0-9:]+))\\](:(\\d+))?$"); // [host]:port
   boost::regex v4Exp("^((\\d+\\.){3}\\d+)(:(\\d+))?$");
-  boost::regex hostExp("^(([^:]+))(:(\\d+))?$"); // host:port
+  boost::regex hostExp("^(([^:]*))(:(\\d+))?$"); // host:port
 
   boost::smatch match;
   m_isV6 = boost::regex_match(authority, match, v6Exp);