diff --git a/libvirt/uri/connection_uri_test.go b/libvirt/uri/connection_uri_test.go
index 966b2bf73..7fa5991d1 100644
--- a/libvirt/uri/connection_uri_test.go
+++ b/libvirt/uri/connection_uri_test.go
@@ -12,15 +12,17 @@ func TestURI(t *testing.T) {
 		Driver     string
 		Transport  string
 		RemoteName string
+		HostName   string
+		Port       string
 	}{
-		{"xxx://servername/", "xxx", "tls", "xxx:///"},
-		{"xxx+tls://servername/", "xxx", "tls", "xxx:///"},
-		{"xxx+tls:///", "xxx", "tls", "xxx:///"},
-		{"xxx+tcp://servername/", "xxx", "tcp", "xxx:///"},
-		{"xxx+tcp:///", "xxx", "tcp", "xxx:///"},
-		{"xxx+unix:///", "xxx", "unix", "xxx:///"},
-		{"xxx+tls://servername/?foo=bar&name=dong:///ding", "xxx", "tls", "dong:///ding"},
-		{"xxx+ssh://username@hostname:2222/path?foo=bar&bar=foo", "xxx", "ssh", "xxx:///path"},
+		{"xxx://servername/", "xxx", "tls", "xxx:///", "servername", ""},
+		{"xxx+tls://servername/", "xxx", "tls", "xxx:///", "servername", ""},
+		{"xxx+tls:///", "xxx", "tls", "xxx:///", "", ""},
+		{"xxx+tcp://servername/", "xxx", "tcp", "xxx:///", "servername", ""},
+		{"xxx+tcp:///", "xxx", "tcp", "xxx:///", "", ""},
+		{"xxx+unix:///", "xxx", "unix", "xxx:///", "", ""},
+		{"xxx+tls://servername/?foo=bar&name=dong:///ding", "xxx", "tls", "dong:///ding", "servername", ""},
+		{"xxx+ssh://username@hostname:2222/path?foo=bar&bar=foo", "xxx", "ssh", "xxx:///path", "hostname", "2222"},
 	}
 
 	for _, fixture := range fixtures {
@@ -29,5 +31,7 @@ func TestURI(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, fixture.Transport, u.transport())
 		assert.Equal(t, fixture.Driver, u.driver())
 		assert.Equal(t, fixture.RemoteName, u.RemoteName())
+		assert.Equal(t, fixture.HostName, u.Host)
+		assert.Equal(t, fixture.Port, u.Port())
 	}
 }
diff --git a/libvirt/uri/ssh.go b/libvirt/uri/ssh.go
index 342f4c029..0ac2345cf 100644
--- a/libvirt/uri/ssh.go
+++ b/libvirt/uri/ssh.go
@@ -162,11 +162,37 @@ func (u *ConnectionURI) dialHost(target string, sshcfg *ssh_config.Config, depth
 
 	q := u.Query()
 
-	port := u.Port()
-	if port == "" {
-		port = defaultSSHPort
+	// port override order of precedence (starting with highest):
+	//  1. specific stanza entry in ssh_config for this target (this includes default global entries in ssh config)
+	//  2. port specified in connection string
+	//  3. defaultSSHPort
+	port := ""
+
+	if sshcfg != nil {
+		configuredPort, err := sshcfg.Get(target, "Port")
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("[WARN] error reading Port attribute from ssh_config for target '%v'", target)
+		} else {
+			port = configuredPort
+
+			if port == "" {
+				log.Printf("[DEBUG] port for target '%v' in ssh_config is empty", target)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if port != "" {
+
+		log.Printf("[DEBUG] using ssh port from ssh_config: '%s'", port)
+
+	} else if u.Port() != "" {
+
+		port = u.Port()
+		log.Printf("[DEBUG] using connection string port ('%s')", port)
 	} else {
-		log.Printf("[DEBUG] ssh Port is overridden to: '%s'", port)
+
+		port := defaultSSHPort
+		log.Printf("[DEBUG] using default port for ssh connection ('%s')", port)
 	}
 
 	hostName := target