diff --git a/control/controlclient/direct.go b/control/controlclient/direct.go
index 67446b03b..ce15486cc 100644
--- a/control/controlclient/direct.go
+++ b/control/controlclient/direct.go
@@ -146,6 +146,13 @@ func NewDirect(opts Options) (*Direct, error) {
 	}
 
 	httpc := opts.HTTPTestClient
+	if httpc == nil && runtime.GOOS == "js" {
+		// In js/wasm, net/http.Transport (as of Go 1.18) will
+		// only use the browser's Fetch API if you're using
+		// the DefaultClient (or a client without dial hooks
+		// etc set).
+		httpc = http.DefaultClient
+	}
 	if httpc == nil {
 		dnsCache := &dnscache.Resolver{
 			Forward:          dnscache.Get().Forward, // use default cache's forwarder