diff --git a/lib/dns.js b/lib/dns.js
index b891c79d52..288373b45f 100644
--- a/lib/dns.js
+++ b/lib/dns.js
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ function onlookup(err, addresses) {
 // lookup(hostname, [options,] callback)
 exports.lookup = function lookup(hostname, options, callback) {
   var hints = 0;
-  var family = 0;
+  var family = -1;
 
   // Parse arguments
   if (typeof options === 'function') {
@@ -120,6 +120,8 @@ exports.lookup = function lookup(hostname, options, callback) {
         hints !== (exports.ADDRCONFIG | exports.V4MAPPED)) {
       throw new TypeError('invalid argument: hints must use valid flags');
     }
+  } else {
+    family = options >>> 0;
   }
 
   if (family !== 0 && family !== 4 && family !== 6)