diff --git a/Lib/asyncore.py b/Lib/asyncore.py
index 5740fe1fc2c..e79593a7c6f 100644
--- a/Lib/asyncore.py
+++ b/Lib/asyncore.py
@@ -212,7 +212,13 @@ def __init__ (self, sock=None, map=None):
             # I think it should inherit this anyway
             self.socket.setblocking (0)
             self.connected = 1
-            self.addr = sock.getpeername()
+            # XXX Does the constructor require that the socket passed
+            # be connected?
+            try:
+                self.addr = sock.getpeername()
+            except socket.error:
+                # The addr isn't crucial
+                pass
         else:
             self.socket = None