diff --git a/pg_drop_restore.sh b/pg_drop_restore.sh
index ec26604..e7a1e29 100755
--- a/pg_drop_restore.sh
+++ b/pg_drop_restore.sh
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ while getopts ":o:d:h:f:p:e:i:j:raqnms" opt; do
 			fi;
 			;;
 		h|hostname)
-			if [ -z "$host" ]; then
+			if [ -z "$_host" ]; then
 				# if local it is socket
 				if [ "$OPTARG" != "local" ]; then
 					host='-h '$OPTARG;
diff --git a/pg_restore_db_file.sh b/pg_restore_db_file.sh
index 75fb97e..914949e 100755
--- a/pg_restore_db_file.sh
+++ b/pg_restore_db_file.sh
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@ while getopts ":f:j:h:p:e:granm" opt; do
 			;;
 		h|hostname)
 			if [ -z "$host" ]; then
-				host='-h '$OPTARG;
+				# do not set if local name (uses socket)
+				if [ "$OPTARG" != "local" ]; then
+					host='-h '$OPTARG;
+				fi;
 				_host=$OPTARG;
 				HOST=$OPRTARG;
 			fi;