diff --git a/lib/statsd.rb b/lib/statsd.rb
index e604649..9f71a56 100644
--- a/lib/statsd.rb
+++ b/lib/statsd.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ def host_ip_addr
       end
     end
     
+    def host=(h)
+      @host_ip_addr = nil
+      @host = h
+    end
+    
     # +stat+ to log timing for
     # +time+ is the time to log in ms
     def timing(stat, time, sample_rate = 1)
diff --git a/test/statsd_test.rb b/test/statsd_test.rb
index 1de148f..cbc8bd4 100644
--- a/test/statsd_test.rb
+++ b/test/statsd_test.rb
@@ -96,6 +96,12 @@ def setup
       assert_equal '127.0.0.1', Statsd.host_ip_addr
     end
     
+    should "be cleared when host is set" do
+      assert_equal '127.0.0.1', Statsd.host_ip_addr
+      Statsd.host = 'statsd-01'
+      assert_nil Statsd.instance_variable_get(:@host_ip_addr)
+    end
+    
   end
   
   private