diff --git a/client/http_client.c b/client/http_client.c
index ae73f71..433ca73 100644
--- a/client/http_client.c
+++ b/client/http_client.c
@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
  * @param host_buffer A buffer large enough to hold the host of the dest
  */
 void get_parts(const char *dest, char *path_buffer, char *host_buffer) {
+    // If the destination starts with PROTO_PREFIX, skip it
+    if (strstr(dest, PROTO_PREFIX) == dest) {
+        dest += strlen(PROTO_PREFIX);
+    }
     const char *slash_cursor;
     for (slash_cursor = dest; *slash_cursor != '\0' && *slash_cursor != '/'; slash_cursor++);
 
diff --git a/client/http_client.h b/client/http_client.h
index 94eacd1..5bcc5a9 100644
--- a/client/http_client.h
+++ b/client/http_client.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #define RTT_FLAG "-p"
 #define USAGE_STRING "Usage: ./http_client [-p] server_url port_number\n"
 #define PORT_ERROR "Port must be a number in the range 1-65535"
+#define PROTO_PREFIX "http://"
 
 void get_parts(const char *dest, char *path_buffer, char *host_buffer);