diff --git a/src/zutil/net/http/HttpClient.java b/src/zutil/net/http/HttpClient.java
index 361b30c..03fd70c 100755
--- a/src/zutil/net/http/HttpClient.java
+++ b/src/zutil/net/http/HttpClient.java
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import javax.net.ssl.SSLSocketFactory;
 import java.io.BufferedInputStream;
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.InputStream;
+import java.net.MalformedURLException;
 import java.net.Socket;
 import java.net.URL;
 import java.util.HashMap;
@@ -90,6 +91,14 @@ public class HttpClient implements AutoCloseable {
         this.type = type;
     }
 
+    public void setURL(String url) {
+        try {
+            setURL(new HttpURL(url));
+        } catch (MalformedURLException e) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
     public void setURL(URL url) {
         setURL(new HttpURL(url));
     }
@@ -140,7 +149,9 @@ public class HttpClient implements AutoCloseable {
      */
     public HttpHeader send() throws IOException {
         int port = 80;
-        if (url.getPort() > 0)
+        if (url == null)
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("No URL defined for request.");
+        else if (url.getPort() > 0)
             port = url.getPort();
         else if ("https".equals(url.getProtocol()))
             port = 443;