diff --git a/jetty-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/client/HttpClient.java b/jetty-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/client/HttpClient.java
index a9e86cd0ec4..4230c7f0a11 100644
--- a/jetty-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/client/HttpClient.java
+++ b/jetty-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/client/HttpClient.java
@@ -311,12 +311,11 @@ public class HttpClient extends ContainerLifeCycle
         if (!Arrays.asList("http", "https").contains(scheme))
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid protocol " + scheme);
 
-        String host = request.host().toLowerCase();
         int port = request.port();
         if (port < 0)
             port = "https".equals(scheme) ? 443 : 80;
 
-        provideDestination(scheme, host, port).send(request, listener);
+        provideDestination(scheme, request.host(), port).send(request, listener);
     }
 
     protected void newConnection(HttpDestination destination, Callback<Connection> callback)
diff --git a/jetty-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/client/HttpDestination.java b/jetty-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/client/HttpDestination.java
index 85bc87cb127..380d4e1890a 100644
--- a/jetty-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/client/HttpDestination.java
+++ b/jetty-client/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/client/HttpDestination.java
@@ -103,8 +103,9 @@ public class HttpDestination implements Destination, AutoCloseable, Dumpable
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid request scheme " + request.scheme() + " for destination " + this);
         if (!host.equals(request.host()))
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid request host " + request.host() + " for destination " + this);
-        if (request.port()>0 && port != request.port())
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid request port " + request.port() + " for destination " + this);
+        int port = request.port();
+        if (port >= 0 && this.port != port)
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid request port " + port + " for destination " + this);
 
         RequestPair requestPair = new RequestPair(request, listener);
         if (client.isRunning())