diff --git a/pwncat/__main__.py b/pwncat/__main__.py
index 38e1827..fb1d753 100644
--- a/pwncat/__main__.py
+++ b/pwncat/__main__.py
@@ -143,12 +143,15 @@ def main():
 
             if args.connection_string:
                 m = connect.Command.CONNECTION_PATTERN.match(args.connection_string)
-                protocol = m.group("protocol").removesuffix("://")
+                protocol = m.group("protocol")
                 user = m.group("user")
                 password = m.group("password")
                 host = m.group("host")
                 port = m.group("port")
 
+            if protocol is not None:
+                protocol = protocol.removesuffix("://")
+
             if host is not None and host == "":
                 host = None