diff --git a/bin/mn_run.py b/bin/mn_run.py
index 6503c9c..281adaf 100755
--- a/bin/mn_run.py
+++ b/bin/mn_run.py
@@ -108,10 +108,10 @@ class MininetRunner(object):
         opts.add_option('--verbosity', '-v', type = 'choice',
                         choices = LEVELS.keys(), default = 'info',
                         help = '[' + ' '.join(LEVELS.keys()) + ']')
-        opts.add_option('--ip', type = 'string',
+        opts.add_option('--ip', type = 'string', default = '127.0.0.1',
                         help = '[ip address as a dotted decimal string for a'
                         'remote controller]')
-        opts.add_option('--port', type = 'string',
+        opts.add_option('--port', type = 'string', default = 6633,
                         help = '[port integer for a listening remote'
                         ' controller]')
         self.options = opts.parse_args()[0]
diff --git a/mininet/node.py b/mininet/node.py
index 359462b..f29acb5 100644
--- a/mininet/node.py
+++ b/mininet/node.py
@@ -320,7 +320,8 @@ class KernelSwitch(Switch):
                       ' '.join(self.intfs))
         # Run protocol daemon
         self.cmdPrint('ofprotocol nl:' + str(self.dp) + ' tcp:' +
-                      controllers['c0'].IP()+':'+str(controllers['c0'].port) +
+                      controllers['c0'].IP() + ':' +
+                      str(controllers['c0'].port) +
                       ' --fail=closed 1> ' + ofplog + ' 2>' + ofplog + ' &')
         self.execed = False # XXX until I fix it
 
@@ -406,9 +407,11 @@ class NOX(Controller):
                     ' '.join(nox_args),
             cdir = nox_core_dir, **kwargs)
 
+
 class RemoteController(Controller):
-    '''Controller running remotely.'''
-    def __init__(self, name, inNamespace = False, ip_address = None, port = 6633):
+    '''Controller running outside of Mininet's control.'''
+    def __init__(self, name, inNamespace = False, ip_address = '127.0.0.1',
+                 port = 6633):
         '''Init.
 
         @param name name to give controller
@@ -416,8 +419,6 @@ class RemoteController(Controller):
             listening
         @param port the port where the remote controller is listening
         '''
-        if not ip_address:
-            raise Exception('please set ip_address\n')
         Controller.__init__(self, name, ip_address = ip_address, port = port)
 
     def start(self):