diff --git a/lib/net/pool.js b/lib/net/pool.js
index 21c371ae..43e4f7ec 100644
--- a/lib/net/pool.js
+++ b/lib/net/pool.js
@@ -2337,24 +2337,27 @@ HostList.prototype.isBanned = function isBanned(host) {
 };
 
 /**
- * Allocate a new loader host.
+ * Allocate a new host.
  * @returns {HostEntry}
  */
 
 HostList.prototype.getHost = function getHost() {
   var now = this.network.now();
-  var buckets = this.fresh;
+  var buckets = null;
   var factor = 1;
   var index, key, bucket, entry, num;
 
-  if (this.size() === 0)
-    return;
+  if (this.totalFresh > 0)
+    buckets = this.fresh;
 
   if (this.totalUsed > 0) {
     if (this.totalFresh === 0 || util.random(0, 2) === 0)
       buckets = this.used;
   }
 
+  if (!buckets)
+    return;
+
   for (;;) {
     index = util.random(0, buckets.length);
     bucket = buckets[index];