diff --git a/control/controlclient/direct.go b/control/controlclient/direct.go
index 2c6b9ff56..5a83e3067 100644
--- a/control/controlclient/direct.go
+++ b/control/controlclient/direct.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"log"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"reflect"
 	"strconv"
@@ -115,6 +116,10 @@ func NewDirect(opts Options) (*Direct, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("controlclient.New: no server URL specified")
 	}
 	opts.ServerURL = strings.TrimRight(opts.ServerURL, "/")
+	serverURL, err := url.Parse(opts.ServerURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	if opts.TimeNow == nil {
 		opts.TimeNow = time.Now
 	}