diff --git a/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_driver.php b/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_driver.php
index 4bbe5eb..f72db64 100644
--- a/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/drivers/mysqli/mysqli_driver.php
@@ -60,7 +60,15 @@
 	 */	
 	function db_connect()
 	{
-		return @mysqli_connect($this->hostname, $this->username, $this->password, $this->database, $this->port);
+		if ($this->port != '')
+		{
+			return @mysqli_connect($this->hostname, $this->username, $this->password, $this->database, $this->port);			
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			return @mysqli_connect($this->hostname, $this->username, $this->password, $this->database);
+		}
+
 	}
 
 	// --------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/user_guide/changelog.html b/user_guide/changelog.html
index 03ff728..b7c84bc 100644
--- a/user_guide/changelog.html
+++ b/user_guide/changelog.html
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@
 <p>Release Date: not yet released<br />
 SVN Revision: </p>
 
+<h3>Bug fixes for 1.7.1</h3>
+<ul>
+	<li>Fixed a bug in the MySQLi driver when no port is specified</li>
+</ul>
 
 
 <h2>Version 1.7</h2>