diff --git a/opts/hosts_windows.go b/opts/hosts_windows.go
index ec52e9a70a..7c239e00f1 100644
--- a/opts/hosts_windows.go
+++ b/opts/hosts_windows.go
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 package opts
 
 // DefaultHost constant defines the default host string used by docker on Windows
-var DefaultHost = DefaultTCPHost
+var DefaultHost = "npipe://" + DefaultNamedPipe