diff --git a/src/protocols/abstract/common.js b/src/protocols/abstract/common.js
index 8eec74705..fec780fd9 100644
--- a/src/protocols/abstract/common.js
+++ b/src/protocols/abstract/common.js
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ class AbstractWrapper extends KuzzleEventEmitter {
 
     this._pendingRequests = new Map();
     this._host = host;
-    this._port = typeof options.port === 'number' ? options.port : 7512;
+    const port = parseInt(options.port, 10);
+    this._port = isNaN(port) ? 7512 : port;
     this._ssl = typeof options.sslConnection === 'boolean' ? options.sslConnection : false;
 
     this.id = uuidv4();
diff --git a/test/protocol/common.test.js b/test/protocol/common.test.js
index 329eb2414..4994d6149 100644
--- a/test/protocol/common.test.js
+++ b/test/protocol/common.test.js
@@ -18,6 +18,30 @@ describe('Common Protocol', () => {
     sendSpy = sinon.spy(protocol, 'send');
   });
 
+  describe('#constructor', () => {
+    it('should accept string as port', () => {
+      protocol = new AbstractWrapper('somewhere', { port: '443' });
+
+      should(protocol.port).be.eql(443);
+    });
+
+    it('should use 7512 when no port is given or when port is not a parseable number', () => {
+      protocol = new AbstractWrapper('somewhere', { port: 'foobar' });
+
+      should(protocol.port).be.eql(7512);
+
+      protocol = new AbstractWrapper('somewhere');
+
+      should(protocol.port).be.eql(7512);
+    });
+
+    it('should accept number as port', () => {
+      protocol = new AbstractWrapper('somewhere', { port: 443 });
+
+      should(protocol.port).be.eql(443);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('#connected', () => {
     it('should return true if the protocol state is "connected"', () => {
       protocol.state = 'connected';