diff --git a/lib/controller/checks.py b/lib/controller/checks.py
index aee960b62..104aeec9e 100644
--- a/lib/controller/checks.py
+++ b/lib/controller/checks.py
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ from lib.core.enums import PAYLOAD
 from lib.core.enums import PLACE
 from lib.core.enums import REDIRECTION
 from lib.core.exception import SqlmapConnectionException
+from lib.core.exception import SqlmapDataException
 from lib.core.exception import SqlmapNoneDataException
 from lib.core.exception import SqlmapSilentQuitException
 from lib.core.exception import SqlmapSkipTargetException
@@ -1530,10 +1531,14 @@ def checkConnection(suppressOutput=False):
             except socket.gaierror:
                 errMsg = "host '%s' does not exist" % conf.hostname
                 raise SqlmapConnectionException(errMsg)
-            except (socket.error, UnicodeError), ex:
+            except socket.error, ex:
                 errMsg = "problem occurred while "
                 errMsg += "resolving a host name '%s' ('%s')" % (conf.hostname, getSafeExString(ex))
                 raise SqlmapConnectionException(errMsg)
+            except UnicodeError, ex:
+                errMsg = "problem occurred while "
+                errMsg += "handling a host name '%s' ('%s')" % (conf.hostname, getSafeExString(ex))
+                raise SqlmapDataException(errMsg)
 
     if not suppressOutput and not conf.dummy and not conf.offline:
         infoMsg = "testing connection to the target URL"
diff --git a/lib/core/option.py b/lib/core/option.py
index 95fd7e7cb..8081e3462 100644
--- a/lib/core/option.py
+++ b/lib/core/option.py
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ from lib.core.enums import PROXY_TYPE
 from lib.core.enums import REFLECTIVE_COUNTER
 from lib.core.enums import WIZARD
 from lib.core.exception import SqlmapConnectionException
+from lib.core.exception import SqlmapDataException
 from lib.core.exception import SqlmapFilePathException
 from lib.core.exception import SqlmapGenericException
 from lib.core.exception import SqlmapInstallationException
@@ -1364,7 +1365,12 @@ def _setHostname():
     """
 
     if conf.url:
-        conf.hostname = urlparse.urlsplit(conf.url).netloc.split(':')[0]
+        try:
+            conf.hostname = urlparse.urlsplit(conf.url).netloc.split(':')[0]
+        except ValueError, ex:
+            errMsg = "problem occurred while "
+            errMsg += "parsing an URL '%s' ('%s')" % (conf.url, getSafeExString(ex))
+            raise SqlmapDataException(errMsg)
 
 def _setHTTPTimeout():
     """