diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3f21db18..61004587 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](http://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/)
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
 ## [Unreleased]
+### Fixed
+- added default port for creating a xresolver connection [#499](https://github.com/xmidt-org/webpa-common/pull/499)
+
 ### Changed
 - Update word from blacklist to denylist. [#495](https://github.com/xmidt-org/webpa-common/pull/495)
 - Update references to the main branch. [#497](https://github.com/xmidt-org/webpa-common/pull/497)
diff --git a/xresolver/xresolver.go b/xresolver/xresolver.go
index 7d0f5ad4..9358ae4b 100644
--- a/xresolver/xresolver.go
+++ b/xresolver/xresolver.go
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func (resolve *resolver) DialContext(ctx context.Context, network, addr string)
 		return con, err
 	}
 
-	log.WithPrefix(resolve.logger, level.Key(), level.DebugValue()).Log(logging.MessageKey(), "failed to create connection with other routes using original address", "addr", addr)
+	log.WithPrefix(resolve.logger, level.Key(), level.DebugValue()).Log(logging.MessageKey(), "failed to create connection with other routes using original address", "addr", addr, logging.ErrorKey(), err)
 	// if no connection, create using the default dialer
 	return resolve.dialer.DialContext(ctx, network, addr)
 }
@@ -109,6 +109,15 @@ func (resolve *resolver) createConnection(routes []Route, network, port string)
 		portUsed := port
 		if route.Port != 0 {
 			portUsed = strconv.Itoa(route.Port)
+		} else {
+			if route.Scheme == "http" {
+				portUsed = "80"
+			} else if route.Scheme == "https" {
+				portUsed = "443"
+			} else {
+				log.WithPrefix(resolve.logger, level.Key(), level.ErrorValue()).Log(logging.MessageKey(), "unknown default port", "scheme", route.Scheme, "host", route.Host)
+				continue
+			}
 		}
 		con, err := resolve.dialer.Dial(network, net.JoinHostPort(route.Host, portUsed))
 		if err == nil {