diff --git a/webssh/static/js/main.js b/webssh/static/js/main.js
index e1b15f2..cb83713 100644
--- a/webssh/static/js/main.js
+++ b/webssh/static/js/main.js
@@ -387,7 +387,11 @@ jQuery(function($){
       attr = attrs[i];
       val = data.get(attr);
       if (typeof val === 'string') {
-        data.set(attr, val.trim());
+        val = val.trim();
+        if (attr === 'port' && val === '') {
+          val = 22;
+        }
+        data.set(attr, val);
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/webssh/templates/index.html b/webssh/templates/index.html
index b1532ca..64a8a17 100644
--- a/webssh/templates/index.html
+++ b/webssh/templates/index.html
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
           </div>
           <div class="col">
             <label for="Port">Port</label>
-            <input class="form-control" type="number" id="port" name="port" value="" min=1 max=65535 required>
+            <input class="form-control" type="number" id="port" name="port" placeholder="22" value="" min=1 max=65535>
           </div>
         </div>
         <div class="row">