diff --git a/src/telnetlib_proxy/__init__.py b/src/telnetlib_proxy/__init__.py
index 7481411..d6a9b2c 100644
--- a/src/telnetlib_proxy/__init__.py
+++ b/src/telnetlib_proxy/__init__.py
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
-
+import argparse
 import os
-import sys
-import socks
 import socket
-import termios
-import argparse
+import sys
 import telnetlib
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
+import socks
+import termios
 
 __all__ = ["Telnet"]
 
@@ -40,6 +39,10 @@ def wait_key(echo=False):
 class Telnet(telnetlib.Telnet):
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        telnet_proxy = kwargs.pop('telnet_proxy', os.environ.get('telnet_proxy'))
+        if not telnet_proxy:
+            telnet_proxy = os.environ.get('telnet_proxy')
+        self.telnet_proxy = telnet_proxy
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.echo = False
 
@@ -67,7 +70,7 @@ def open(self, host, port=0, timeout=socket._GLOBAL_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT, **kwargs):
         self.timeout = timeout
         sys.audit("telnetlib.Telnet.open", self, host, port)
 
-        proxy_url = os.environ.get('telnet_proxy')
+        proxy_url = self.telnet_proxy
 
         if proxy_url:
             url_info = urlparse(proxy_url)
@@ -89,8 +92,11 @@ def open(self, host, port=0, timeout=socket._GLOBAL_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT, **kwargs):
 
         if proxy_args.get('proxy_addr'):
             self.sock = socks.create_connection((host, port), timeout, **proxy_args)
-            socks_hostname = socket.gethostbyaddr(proxy_args.get('proxy_addr'))[0]
-            print('Connected to {} via {}.'.format(target_hostname, socks_hostname))
+            try:
+                socks_hostname = socket.gethostbyaddr(proxy_args.get('proxy_addr'))[0]
+                print('Connected to {} via {}.'.format(target_hostname, socks_hostname))
+            except socket.herror as e:
+                print('Connected to {} via {}.'.format(target_hostname, proxy_args.get('proxy_addr')))
         else:
             self.sock = socket.create_connection((host, port), timeout)
             print('Connected to {}.'.format(target_hostname))