diff --git a/utils/python-rpc/console.py b/utils/python-rpc/console.py
index ab0d9f27f..444a9cc59 100755
--- a/utils/python-rpc/console.py
+++ b/utils/python-rpc/console.py
@@ -4,27 +4,45 @@ from __future__ import print_function
 import sys
 import subprocess
 import socket
+import urlparse
 from framework import rpc
 from framework import wallet
 from framework import daemon
 
-USAGE = 'usage: python -i console.py <port>'
+scheme='http'
+host='127.0.0.1'
+port=None
+
+USAGE = 'usage: python -i console.py [[scheme]<host>:]<port>'
 try:
-  port = int(sys.argv[1])
-except:
+  try:
+    port = int(sys.argv[1])
+  except:
+    t = urlparse.urlparse(sys.argv[1], allow_fragments = False)
+    scheme = t.scheme or scheme
+    host = t.hostname or host
+    port = t.port or port
+    if scheme != 'http' and scheme != 'https':
+      print(USAGE)
+      sys.exit(1)
+    if port <= 0 or port > 65535:
+      print(USAGE)
+      sys.exit(1)
+except Exception, e:
+  print('Error: ' + str(e))
   print(USAGE)
   sys.exit(1)
 
 # check for open port
 s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
 s.settimeout(1)
-if s.connect_ex(('127.0.0.1', port)) != 0:
+if s.connect_ex((host, port)) != 0:
   print('No wallet or daemon RPC on port ' + str(port))
   sys.exit(1)
 s.close()
 
 # both wallet and daemon have a get_version JSON RPC
-rpc = rpc.JSONRPC('{protocol}://{host}:{port}'.format(protocol='http', host='127.0.0.1', port=port))
+rpc = rpc.JSONRPC('{protocol}://{host}:{port}'.format(protocol=scheme, host=host, port=port))
 get_version = {
     'method': 'get_version',
     'jsonrpc': '2.0',