diff --git a/src/stats/client.cpp b/src/stats/client.cpp
index c09dbc9bdf..56522d4b66 100644
--- a/src/stats/client.cpp
+++ b/src/stats/client.cpp
@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ std::unique_ptr<StatsdClient> g_stats_client;
 std::unique_ptr<StatsdClient> InitStatsClient(const ArgsManager& args)
 {
     auto is_enabled = args.GetBoolArg("-statsenabled", /*fDefault=*/false);
-    auto host = args.GetArg("-statshost", /*fDefault=*/"");
+    auto host = args.GetArg("-statshost", /*fDefault=*/DEFAULT_STATSD_HOST);
 
     if (is_enabled && host.empty()) {
         // Stats are enabled but host has not been specified, then use
-        // default host. This is to preserve old behavior.
-        host = DEFAULT_STATSD_HOST;
+        // default legacy host. This is to preserve old behavior.
+        host = "127.0.0.1";
     } else if (!host.empty()) {
         // Host is specified but stats are not explcitly enabled. Assume
         // that if a host has been specified, we want stats enabled. This
diff --git a/src/stats/client.h b/src/stats/client.h
index 0fa8538260..6a8f2d6f9d 100644
--- a/src/stats/client.h
+++ b/src/stats/client.h
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class RawSender;
 /** Default port used to connect to a Statsd server */
 static constexpr uint16_t DEFAULT_STATSD_PORT{8125};
 /** Default host assumed to be running a Statsd server */
-static const std::string DEFAULT_STATSD_HOST{"127.0.0.1"};
+static const std::string DEFAULT_STATSD_HOST{""};
 /** Default prefix prepended to Statsd message keys */
 static const std::string DEFAULT_STATSD_PREFIX{""};
 /** Default suffix appended to Statsd message keys */