diff --git a/plugins/DCC.py b/plugins/DCC.py
index 6473864fb..76eb75f60 100644
--- a/plugins/DCC.py
+++ b/plugins/DCC.py
@@ -59,9 +59,16 @@ class DCC(callbacks.Privmsg):
         text = privmsgs.getArgs(args)
         def openChatPort():
             try:
-                sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
-                sock.settimeout(60)
                 host = ircutils.hostFromHostmask(irc.prefix)
+                try:
+                    inet = utils.getSocket(host)
+                except socket.error, e:
+                    s = 'Error connecting to %s: %s'
+                    self.log.warning(s, host, e)
+                    irc.replyError()
+                    return
+                sock = socket.socket(inet, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+                sock.settimeout(60)
                 if conf.supybot.externalIP():
                     ip = conf.supybot.externalIP()
                 else:
diff --git a/src/socketDrivers.py b/src/socketDrivers.py
index 91721abc9..0c98f100b 100644
--- a/src/socketDrivers.py
+++ b/src/socketDrivers.py
@@ -139,7 +139,13 @@ class SocketDriver(drivers.IrcDriver):
             self._scheduleReconnect()
             return
         self.irc.reset()
-        self.conn = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+        try:
+            inet = utils.getSocket(self.server[0])
+        except socket.error, e:
+            log.warning('Error connecting to %s: %s', self.server[0], e)
+            self.reconnect(wait=True)
+            return
+        self.conn = socket.socket(inet, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
         # We allow more time for the connect here, since it might take longer.
         # At least 10 seconds.
         self.conn.settimeout(max(10, conf.supybot.drivers.poll()*10))
diff --git a/src/utils.py b/src/utils.py
index bdd20f046..3704998e2 100755
--- a/src/utils.py
+++ b/src/utils.py
@@ -555,6 +555,21 @@ def changeFunctionName(f, name, doc=None):
     newf.__doc__ = doc
     return newf
 
+def getSocket(host):
+    """Returns a socket of the correct AF_INET type (v4 or v6) in order to
+    communicate with host.
+    """
+    try:
+        host = socket.gethostbyname(host)
+    except socket.error:
+        raise
+    if isIP(host):
+        return socket.socket(socket.INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+    elif isIPV6(host):
+        return socket.socket(socket.INET6, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+    else:
+        raise socket.error, 'Something wonky happened.'
+
 _ipchars = string.digits + '.'
 def isIP(s):
     """Returns whether or not a given string is an IPV4 address.
@@ -606,7 +621,7 @@ class InsensitivePreservingDict(UserDict.DictMixin, object):
             d[key] = s
         return d
     fromkeys = classmethod(fromkeys)
-    
+
     def __getitem__(self, k):
         return self.data[self.key(k)][1]
 
@@ -624,7 +639,7 @@ class InsensitivePreservingDict(UserDict.DictMixin, object):
         for (k, _) in self.iteritems():
             L.append(k)
         return L
-    
+
     def __reduce__(self):
         return (self.__class__, (dict(self.data.values()),))
 
@@ -632,7 +647,7 @@ def mungeEmailForWeb(s):
     s = s.replace('@', ' AT ')
     s = s.replace('.', ' DOT ')
     return s
-    
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     import sys, doctest