diff --git a/config/test.exs b/config/test.exs
index 0231c27..08193bd 100644
--- a/config/test.exs
+++ b/config/test.exs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use Mix.Config
 # setting the statsd port to something other than the default
 # in test so we don't conflict in the build env.
 config :instruments,
+  statsd_host: "localhost",
   statsd_port: 15310,
   fast_counter_report_interval: 10,
   fast_counter_report_jitter_range: 0..0,
diff --git a/lib/instruments.ex b/lib/instruments.ex
index 953d13a..efabbe7 100644
--- a/lib/instruments.ex
+++ b/lib/instruments.ex
@@ -66,6 +66,13 @@ defmodule Instruments do
     end
   end
 
+  @doc false
+  def statsd_host do
+    :instruments
+    |> Application.get_env(:statsd_host, "localhost")
+    |> String.to_charlist()
+  end
+
   @doc false
   def statsd_port(), do: @statsd_port
 
@@ -203,7 +210,7 @@ defmodule Instruments do
       # this will have to be changed.
       unquote(@metrics_module)
       |> Process.whereis()
-      |> :gen_udp.send('localhost', Instruments.statsd_port(), message)
+      |> :gen_udp.send(Instruments.statsd_host(), Instruments.statsd_port(), message)
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/pages/Configuration.md b/pages/Configuration.md
index 7f7c28b..152b484 100644
--- a/pages/Configuration.md
+++ b/pages/Configuration.md
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ There are a couple of `Instruments` specific application variables:
 * `fast_counter_report_jitter_range`: How much random jitter should be applied to the reporting interval, in milliseconds.
                                       Defaults to half a second before and after the reporting interval.
 * `probe_prefix`: A global prefix to apply to all probes.
-* `statsd_port`: The port that the statsd server listens on. Should be the same as the port in the statix 
+* `statsd_host`: The hostname of the statsd server. Defaults to `"localhost"`. Should be the same as the host
+                 in the statix configuration above.
+* `statsd_port`: The port that the statsd server listens on. Should be the same as the port in the statix
                  configuration above.
 * `enable_sysmon`: Enables and registers `Instruments.Sysmon.Reporter` with `:erlang.system_monitor/1` to receive system 
                    monitor events.
@@ -42,4 +44,5 @@ For example:
        fast_counter_report_interval: 30_000,
        fast_counter_report_jitter_range: -700..700,
        probe_prefix: "probes",
+       statsd_host: "localhost",
        statsd_port: 15339