diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index e24f5157..fa9c7f4e 100755
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ int main ( int argc, char** argv )
     if ( !bIsClient && !strCentralServer.isEmpty() )
     {
         bIsCentralServer =
-            ( !strCentralServer.compare ( "localhost" ) ||
+            ( !strCentralServer.toLower().compare ( "localhost" ) ||
               !strCentralServer.compare ( "127.0.0.1" ) );
     }
 
diff --git a/src/socket.cpp b/src/socket.cpp
index 3d7c8eb1..a1784235 100755
--- a/src/socket.cpp
+++ b/src/socket.cpp
@@ -32,14 +32,25 @@ void CSocket::Init ( const quint16 iPortNumber )
     // allocate memory for network receive and send buffer in samples
     vecbyRecBuf.Init ( MAX_SIZE_BYTES_NETW_BUF );
 
-    // initialize the listening socket, per definition use the port number plus
-    // one for the client to make it possible to run server and client on the
-    // same computer
+    // initialize the listening socket
     bool bSuccess;
     if ( bIsClient )
     {
-        bSuccess = SocketDevice.bind (
-            QHostAddress( QHostAddress::Any ), iPortNumber + 1 );
+        // Per definition use the port number plus one for the client to make
+        // it possible to run server and client on the same computer. If the
+        // port is not available, try "NUM_SOCKET_PORTS_TO_TRY" times with
+        // incremented port numbers
+        quint16 iClientPortIncrement = 1; // start value: port nubmer plus one
+        bSuccess                     = false; // initialization for while loop
+        while ( !bSuccess &&
+                ( iClientPortIncrement <= NUM_SOCKET_PORTS_TO_TRY ) )
+        {
+            bSuccess = SocketDevice.bind (
+                QHostAddress( QHostAddress::Any ),
+                iPortNumber + iClientPortIncrement );
+
+            iClientPortIncrement++;
+        }
     }
     else
     {
diff --git a/src/socket.h b/src/socket.h
index 59780368..42d89c93 100755
--- a/src/socket.h
+++ b/src/socket.h
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@
 class CServer; // forward declaration of CServer
 
 
+/* Definitions ****************************************************************/
+// number of ports we try to bind until we give up
+#define NUM_SOCKET_PORTS_TO_TRY         50
+
+
 /* Classes ********************************************************************/
 class CSocket : public QObject
 {
@@ -59,7 +64,7 @@ public:
         : pServer ( pNServP ), bIsClient ( false ) { Init ( iPortNumber ); }
 
     void SendPacket ( const CVector<uint8_t>& vecbySendBuf,
-                      const CHostAddress& HostAddr );
+                      const CHostAddress&     HostAddr );
 
 protected:
     void Init ( const quint16 iPortNumber = LLCON_DEFAULT_PORT_NUMBER );