diff --git a/nselib/http.lua b/nselib/http.lua
index 90e793cca..7c81ab8d4 100644
--- a/nselib/http.lua
+++ b/nselib/http.lua
@@ -161,7 +161,9 @@ end
 -- See RFC 2616 sections 14.23 and 5.2.
 local function get_host_field(host, port)
   if not host then return nil end
-  port = type(port) == "number" and {number=port} or port
+  if type(port) == "number" then
+    port = {number=port, protocol="tcp", state="open", version={}}
+  end
   local ssl = shortport.ssl(host, port)
   local pn = port.number
   if not ssl and pn == 80 or ssl and pn == 443 then