diff --git a/simpleldap/__init__.py b/simpleldap/__init__.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/simpleldap/__init__.py
+++ b/simpleldap/__init__.py
@@ -99,20 +99,23 @@ class Connection(object):
     # this to a class of their liking.
     result_item_class = LDAPItem
 
-    def __init__(self, hostname, port=None, dn='', password='',
+    def __init__(self, hostname='localhost', port=None, dn='', password='',
                  encryption=None, require_cert=None, debug=False,
                  initialize_kwargs=None, options=None):
         """
         Bind to hostname:port using the passed distinguished name (DN), as
         ``dn``, and password.
 
+        If ``hostname`` is not given, default to ``'localhost'``.
+
         If no user and password is given, try to connect anonymously with a
         blank DN and password.
 
         ``encryption`` should be one of ``'tls'``, ``'ssl'``, or ``None``.
         If ``'tls'``, then the standard port 389 is used by default and after
         binding, tls is started.  If ``'ssl'``, then port 636 is used by
-        default.
+        default.  ``port`` can optionally be given for connecting to a
+        non-default port.
 
         ``require_cert`` is None by default.  Set this to ``True`` or
         ``False`` to set the ``OPT_X_TLS_REQUIRE_CERT`` ldap option.
Default hostname argument to 'localhost'.  Thanks to Adriano Ribeiro (drr<I>t) for the suggestion.