diff --git a/lib/resolv.rb b/lib/resolv.rb
index 47ea97deff85e7..983540c415e2ca 100644
--- a/lib/resolv.rb
+++ b/lib/resolv.rb
@@ -403,6 +403,8 @@ def each_address(name)
     end
 
     def use_ipv6? # :nodoc:
+      @config.lazy_initialize unless @config.instance_variable_get(:@initialized)
+
       use_ipv6 = @config.use_ipv6?
       unless use_ipv6.nil?
         return use_ipv6