diff --git a/netdeploy/remote/nodecfg/nodeDir.go b/netdeploy/remote/nodecfg/nodeDir.go
index 3b92ecf69d..8d8787dd11 100644
--- a/netdeploy/remote/nodecfg/nodeDir.go
+++ b/netdeploy/remote/nodecfg/nodeDir.go
@@ -186,8 +186,10 @@ func (nd *nodeDir) configurePublicAddress(publicAddress bool) error {
 		return errors.New("publicAddress is only valid for relay nodes")
 	}
 
-	networkHostName := nd.configurator.getNetworkHostName()
-	nd.config.PublicAddress = networkHostName
+	if nd.NetAddress[0] == ':' {
+		networkHostName := nd.configurator.getNetworkHostName() + nd.NetAddress
+		nd.config.PublicAddress = networkHostName
+	}
 
 	return nil
 }