diff --git a/lib/net.js b/lib/net.js
index b4934e3269c..7fe892f65dc 100644
--- a/lib/net.js
+++ b/lib/net.js
@@ -131,19 +131,25 @@ function Socket(options) {
 
   Stream.call(this);
 
-  if (typeof options == 'number') {
-    // Legacy interface.
-    var fd = options;
-    this._handle = createPipe();
-    this._handle.open(fd);
-    this.readable = this.writable = true;
-    initSocketHandle(this);
-  } else {
-    // private
-    this._handle = options && options.handle;
-    initSocketHandle(this);
-    this.allowHalfOpen = options && options.allowHalfOpen;
+  switch (typeof options) {
+  case 'number':
+    options = { fd: options }; // Legacy interface.
+    break;
+  case 'undefined':
+    options = {};
+    break;
   }
+
+  if (typeof options.fd === 'undefined') {
+    this._handle = options && options.handle; // private
+  } else {
+    this._handle = createPipe();
+    this._handle.open(options.fd);
+    this.readable = this.writable = true;
+  }
+
+  initSocketHandle(this);
+  this.allowHalfOpen = options && options.allowHalfOpen;
 }
 util.inherits(Socket, Stream);