diff --git a/sys/net/application_layer/dns/dns.c b/sys/net/application_layer/dns/dns.c
index 83536c9981c81df29dc23c18cd65c6efacabe230..adef0df244ac69ce76d12b9aaa5310c966f7f5ae 100644
--- a/sys/net/application_layer/dns/dns.c
+++ b/sys/net/application_layer/dns/dns.c
@@ -135,6 +135,10 @@ int sock_dns_query(const char *domain_name, void *addr_out, int family)
     uint8_t buf[SOCK_DNS_QUERYBUF_LEN];
     uint8_t reply_buf[512];
 
+    if (sock_dns_server.port == 0) {
+        return -ECONNREFUSED;
+    }
+
     if (strlen(domain_name) > SOCK_DNS_MAX_NAME_LEN) {
         return -ENOSPC;
     }