diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/common/transport/InetSocketTransportAddress.java b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/common/transport/InetSocketTransportAddress.java
index 936ef1ab544..80c7b857224 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/common/transport/InetSocketTransportAddress.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/common/transport/InetSocketTransportAddress.java
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import java.net.InetSocketAddress;
  */
 public final class InetSocketTransportAddress implements TransportAddress {
 
-    public static final InetSocketTransportAddress PROTO = new InetSocketTransportAddress(new InetSocketAddress("127.0.0.1", 0));
+    public static final InetSocketTransportAddress PROTO = new InetSocketTransportAddress();
 
     private final InetSocketAddress address;
 
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ public final class InetSocketTransportAddress implements TransportAddress {
         this.address = new InetSocketAddress(inetAddress, port);
     }
 
+    private InetSocketTransportAddress() {
+        address = null;
+    }
+
     public InetSocketTransportAddress(InetAddress address, int port) {
         this(new InetSocketAddress(address, port));
     }