diff --git a/src/librelp.h b/src/librelp.h
index 7fefadc7..de1a7780 100644
--- a/src/librelp.h
+++ b/src/librelp.h
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ relpRetVal relpEngineSetOnGenericErr(relpEngine_t *pThis,
 
 /* exposed server property set functions */
 relpRetVal relpSrvSetLstnPort(relpSrv_t *pThis, unsigned char *pLstnPort);
+relpRetVal relpSrvSetLstnAddr(relpSrv_t *pThis, unsigned char *pLstnAddr);
 relpRetVal relpSrvSetUsrPtr(relpSrv_t *pThis, void *pUsr);
 void relpSrvEnableTLS(relpSrv_t *pThis) __attribute__ ((deprecated));
 void relpSrvEnableTLSZip(relpSrv_t *pThis) __attribute__ ((deprecated));
diff --git a/src/relpsrv.c b/src/relpsrv.c
index 22cbbf72..c9633871 100644
--- a/src/relpsrv.c
+++ b/src/relpsrv.c
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ relpSrvDestruct(relpSrv_t **ppThis)
 
 	if(pThis->pLstnPort != NULL)
 		free(pThis->pLstnPort);
+	if(pThis->pLstnAddr != NULL)
+		free(pThis->pLstnAddr);
 
 	free(pThis->pristring);
 	free(pThis->caCertFile);
@@ -189,6 +191,31 @@ relpSrvSetLstnPort(relpSrv_t *pThis, unsigned char *pLstnPort)
 	LEAVE_RELPFUNC;
 }
 
+/* set the address inside the relp server. If NULL is provided, the server
+ * will bind to all interfaces. The provided string is always copied, it is the caller's duty to
+ * free the passed-in string.
+ * perlei, 2018-04-19
+ */
+relpRetVal
+relpSrvSetLstnAddr(relpSrv_t *pThis, unsigned char *pLstnAddr)
+{
+	ENTER_RELPFUNC;
+	RELPOBJ_assert(pThis, Srv);
+
+	/* first free old value */
+	if(pThis->pLstnAddr != NULL)
+		free(pThis->pLstnAddr);
+	pThis->pLstnAddr = NULL;
+
+	if(pLstnAddr != NULL) {
+		if((pThis->pLstnAddr = (unsigned char*) strdup((char*)pLstnAddr)) == NULL)
+			ABORT_FINALIZE(RELP_RET_OUT_OF_MEMORY);
+	}
+
+finalize_it:
+	LEAVE_RELPFUNC;
+}
+
 /* mode==NULL is valid and means "no change" */
 relpRetVal
 relpSrvSetAuthMode(relpSrv_t *pThis, char *mode)
@@ -364,7 +391,9 @@ relpSrvRun(relpSrv_t *pThis)
 		CHKRet(relpTcpSetPermittedPeers(pTcp, &(pThis->permittedPeers)));
 	}
 	CHKRet(relpTcpLstnInit(pTcp, (pThis->pLstnPort == NULL) ?
-		(unsigned char*) RELP_DFLT_PORT : pThis->pLstnPort, pThis->ai_family));
+		(unsigned char*) RELP_DFLT_PORT : pThis->pLstnPort,
+		(unsigned char*) pThis->pLstnAddr,
+		pThis->ai_family));
 
 	pThis->pTcp = pTcp;
 
diff --git a/src/relpsrv.h b/src/relpsrv.h
index 20ac567d..2dc56926 100644
--- a/src/relpsrv.h
+++ b/src/relpsrv.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ struct relpSrv_s {
 	BEGIN_RELP_OBJ;
 	relpEngine_t *pEngine;
 	unsigned char *pLstnPort;
+	unsigned char *pLstnAddr;
 	int ai_family;
 	relpTcp_t *pTcp; /**< our tcp support object */
 	size_t maxDataSize;  /**< maximum size of a DATA element */
diff --git a/src/tcp.c b/src/tcp.c
index e37cee6a..36454471 100644
--- a/src/tcp.c
+++ b/src/tcp.c
@@ -1400,9 +1400,11 @@ relpTcpLstnInitTLS(relpTcp_t *const pThis)
 /* initialize the tcp socket for a listner
  * pLstnPort is a pointer to a port name. NULL is not permitted.
  * gerhards, 2008-03-17
+ * pLstnAddr is a pointer to a bind address. NULL is permitted.
+ * perlei, 2018-04-19
  */
 relpRetVal
-relpTcpLstnInit(relpTcp_t *const pThis, unsigned char *pLstnPort, const int ai_family)
+relpTcpLstnInit(relpTcp_t *pThis, unsigned char *pLstnPort, unsigned char *pLstnAddr, int ai_family)
 {
 	struct addrinfo hints, *res = NULL, *r;
 	int error, maxs, *s, on = 1;
@@ -1422,7 +1424,7 @@ relpTcpLstnInit(relpTcp_t *const pThis, unsigned char *pLstnPort, const int ai_f
 	hints.ai_family = ai_family;
 	hints.ai_socktype = SOCK_STREAM;
 
-	error = getaddrinfo(NULL, (char*) pLstnPt, &hints, &res);
+	error = getaddrinfo((char*)pLstnAddr, (char*) pLstnPt, &hints, &res);
 	if(error) {
 		pThis->pEngine->dbgprint("error %d querying port '%s'\n", error, pLstnPt);
 		ABORT_FINALIZE(RELP_RET_INVALID_PORT);
diff --git a/src/tcp.h b/src/tcp.h
index dade46eb..70039c3c 100644
--- a/src/tcp.h
+++ b/src/tcp.h
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ relpTcpRtryOp(relpTcp_t *pThis)
 relpRetVal relpTcpConstruct(relpTcp_t **ppThis, relpEngine_t *pEngine, int connType, void *pParent);
 relpRetVal relpTcpDestruct(relpTcp_t **ppThis);
 relpRetVal relpTcpAbortDestruct(relpTcp_t **ppThis);
-relpRetVal relpTcpLstnInit(relpTcp_t *pThis, unsigned char *pLstnPort, int ai_family);
+relpRetVal relpTcpLstnInit(relpTcp_t *pThis, unsigned char *pLstnPort, unsigned char *pLstnAddr, int ai_family);
 relpRetVal relpTcpAcceptConnReq(relpTcp_t **ppThis, int sock, relpSrv_t *pSrv);
 relpRetVal relpTcpRcv(relpTcp_t *pThis, relpOctet_t *pRcvBuf, ssize_t *pLenBuf);
 relpRetVal relpTcpSend(relpTcp_t *pThis, relpOctet_t *pBuf, ssize_t *pLenBuf);