--- common.inc.ORIG     2007-11-17 17:34:45.000000000 +0000
+++ common.inc  2007-11-17 17:42:54.000000000 +0000
@@ -434,6 +434,10 @@ function drupal_http_request($url, $head
 
   // Make sure the socket opened properly.
   if (!$fp) {
+    if (!$errno){
+      $errno=-1;
+      $errstr='Socket not initialized';
+    }
     $result->error = trim($errno .' '. $errstr);
     $result->code = -$errno;
     return $result;