diff --git a/lib/request.js b/lib/request.js
index c4a5ccf..830b21b 100644
--- a/lib/request.js
+++ b/lib/request.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
  * Module dependencies.
  */
 
+var net = require('net');
 var contentType = require('content-type');
 var stringify = require('url').format;
 var parse = require('parseurl');
@@ -417,7 +418,9 @@ module.exports = {
 
   get subdomains() {
     var offset = this.app.subdomainOffset;
-    return (this.host || '')
+    var host = this.host || '';
+    if (net.isIP(host)) return [];
+    return host
       .split('.')
       .reverse()
       .slice(offset);
diff --git a/test/request/subdomains.js b/test/request/subdomains.js
index 8df5be5..39b4b6b 100644
--- a/test/request/subdomains.js
+++ b/test/request/subdomains.js
@@ -14,8 +14,14 @@ describe('req.subdomains', function(){
     req.subdomains.should.eql(['tobi']);
   })
 
-  describe('with no host present', function(){
+  it('should work with no host present', function(){
     var req = request();
     req.subdomains.should.eql([]);
   })
+
+  it('should check if the host is an ip address', function(){
+    var req = request();
+    req.header.host = '127.0.0.1';
+    req.subdomains.should.eql([]);
+  });
 })