diff --git a/lib/logstash/inputs/syslog.rb b/lib/logstash/inputs/syslog.rb
index cfff794..9abb5da 100644
--- a/lib/logstash/inputs/syslog.rb
+++ b/lib/logstash/inputs/syslog.rb
@@ -138,7 +138,11 @@ def udp_listener(output_queue)
     @logger.info("Starting syslog udp listener", :address => "#{@host}:#{@port}")
 
     @udp.close if @udp
-    @udp = UDPSocket.new(Socket::AF_INET)
+    if IPAddr.new(@host).ipv6?
+      @udp = UDPSocket.new(Socket::AF_INET6)
+    elsif IPAddr.new(@host).ipv4?
+      @udp = UDPSocket.new(Socket::AF_INET)
+    end
     @udp.do_not_reverse_lookup = true
     @udp.bind(@host, @port)