diff --git a/pkg/api/types.go b/pkg/api/types.go
index 40a2101987a..237562ef46c 100644
--- a/pkg/api/types.go
+++ b/pkg/api/types.go
@@ -1391,6 +1391,9 @@ type TCPSocketAction struct {
 	// Required: Port to connect to.
 	// +optional
 	Port intstr.IntOrString
+	// Optional: Host name to connect to, defaults to the pod IP.
+	// +optional
+	Host string
 }
 
 // ExecAction describes a "run in container" action.
diff --git a/pkg/api/v1/types.go b/pkg/api/v1/types.go
index 86e508f57a0..04da19b7c2f 100644
--- a/pkg/api/v1/types.go
+++ b/pkg/api/v1/types.go
@@ -1492,6 +1492,9 @@ type TCPSocketAction struct {
 	// Number must be in the range 1 to 65535.
 	// Name must be an IANA_SVC_NAME.
 	Port intstr.IntOrString `json:"port" protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=port"`
+	// Optional: Host name to connect to, defaults to the pod IP.
+	// +optional
+	Host string `json:"host,omitempty" protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=host"`
 }
 
 // ExecAction describes a "run in container" action.
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/prober/prober.go b/pkg/kubelet/prober/prober.go
index 47f85b9824c..acd70bb1ae5 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/prober/prober.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/prober/prober.go
@@ -168,8 +168,12 @@ func (pb *prober) runProbe(p *v1.Probe, pod *v1.Pod, status v1.PodStatus, contai
 		if err != nil {
 			return probe.Unknown, "", err
 		}
-		glog.V(4).Infof("TCP-Probe PodIP: %v, Port: %v, Timeout: %v", status.PodIP, port, timeout)
-		return pb.tcp.Probe(status.PodIP, port, timeout)
+		host := p.TCPSocket.Host
+		if host == "" {
+			host = status.PodIP
+		}
+		glog.V(4).Infof("TCP-Probe Host: %v, Port: %v, Timeout: %v", host, port, timeout)
+		return pb.tcp.Probe(host, port, timeout)
 	}
 	glog.Warningf("Failed to find probe builder for container: %v", container)
 	return probe.Unknown, "", fmt.Errorf("Missing probe handler for %s:%s", format.Pod(pod), container.Name)
diff --git a/pkg/printers/internalversion/describe.go b/pkg/printers/internalversion/describe.go
index 19f50a65c3d..4555b6f3184 100644
--- a/pkg/printers/internalversion/describe.go
+++ b/pkg/printers/internalversion/describe.go
@@ -1144,7 +1144,7 @@ func DescribeProbe(probe *api.Probe) string {
 		url.Path = probe.HTTPGet.Path
 		return fmt.Sprintf("http-get %s %s", url.String(), attrs)
 	case probe.TCPSocket != nil:
-		return fmt.Sprintf("tcp-socket :%s %s", probe.TCPSocket.Port.String(), attrs)
+		return fmt.Sprintf("tcp-socket %s:%s %s", probe.TCPSocket.Host, probe.TCPSocket.Port.String(), attrs)
 	}
 	return fmt.Sprintf("unknown %s", attrs)
 }