diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 233eb97da..5a0834f3f 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ Detailed list of changes
 
 - Remote control: When listening on a UNIX domain socket only allow connections from processes having the same user id (:pull:`7777`)
 
+- kitten @: Fix a regression connecting to TCP sockets using plain IP addresses rather than hostnames (:iss:`7794`)
+
 0.36.1 [2024-08-24]
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
diff --git a/tools/cmd/at/socket_io.go b/tools/cmd/at/socket_io.go
index c729f8018..ff74d4940 100644
--- a/tools/cmd/at/socket_io.go
+++ b/tools/cmd/at/socket_io.go
@@ -174,8 +174,10 @@ func do_socket_io(io_data *rc_io_data) (serialized_response []byte, err error) {
 		}
 		defer f.Close()
 	} else {
-		conn, err = net.Dial(global_options.to_network, global_options.to_address)
+		network := utils.IfElse(global_options.to_network == "ip", "tcp", global_options.to_network)
+		conn, err = net.Dial(network, global_options.to_address)
 		if err != nil {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("Failed to connect to %s %s with error: %w", network, global_options.to_address, err)
 			return
 		}
 	}