diff --git a/src/lib/connection.js b/src/lib/connection.js
index 593d7c385..3e16f3e12 100644
--- a/src/lib/connection.js
+++ b/src/lib/connection.js
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ function ConnectionAbstract(host, config) {
     throw new TypeError('Missing host');
   } else if (host instanceof Host) {
     this.host = host;
+  } else if (typeof host === "string"){
+    this.host = new Host(host);
   } else {
     throw new TypeError('Invalid host');
   }
@@ -96,4 +98,4 @@ ConnectionAbstract.prototype.setStatus = function (status) {
   if (status === 'closed') {
     this.removeAllListeners();
   }
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};
diff --git a/test/unit/specs/connection_abstract.js b/test/unit/specs/connection_abstract.js
index a1e8ec88b..786436c68 100644
--- a/test/unit/specs/connection_abstract.js
+++ b/test/unit/specs/connection_abstract.js
@@ -15,6 +15,15 @@ describe('Connection Abstract', function () {
     expect(conn.host).to.be(host);
   });
 
+  it('constructs with string host using Host constructor', function(){
+    var host = 'localhost';
+    var port = 9200;
+    var hostUrl = host+':'+port;
+    var conn = new ConnectionAbstract(hostUrl);
+    expect(conn.host.host).to.be(host);
+    expect(conn.host.port).to.be(port);
+  });
+
   it('requires a valid host', function () {
     expect(function () {
       new ConnectionAbstract();