diff --git a/bert.py b/bert.py
index b04d748..fd9ddae 100755
--- a/bert.py
+++ b/bert.py
@@ -38,10 +38,8 @@ y = "\x038"
 r = "\x034"
 g = "\x033"
 
-context = ssl.create_default_context()
-with socket.socket(socket.AF_INET6, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as sock:
-    irc = context.wrap_socket(sock, server_hostname=host)
-
+# global variable for the socket, see connect()
+irc = None
 
 # Currency API
 def get_exchange():
@@ -71,8 +69,11 @@ def safeexit():
 
 
 def connect(host, port):
+   global irc
    print("Connecting to "+host+":"+str(port))
-   irc.connect((host, port))
+   context = ssl.create_default_context()
+   with socket.create_connection((host, port)) as sock:
+       irc = context.wrap_socket(sock, server_hostname=host)
 
 
 def sendRaw(data):