diff --git a/cmd/cli/dns_proxy.go b/cmd/cli/dns_proxy.go
index 9474b50..3d8cc30 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/dns_proxy.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/dns_proxy.go
@@ -910,7 +910,12 @@ func (p *prog) getClientInfo(remoteIP string, msg *dns.Msg) *ctrld.ClientInfo {
 	} else {
 		ci.Hostname = p.ciTable.LookupHostname(ci.IP, ci.Mac)
 	}
-	ci.Self = p.queryFromSelf(ci.IP)
+
+	if ci.IP == "" {
+		mainLog.Load().Debug().Msgf("client info entry with empty IP address: %v", ci)
+	} else {
+		ci.Self = p.queryFromSelf(ci.IP)
+	}
 	// If this is a query from self, but ci.IP is not loopback IP,
 	// try using hostname mapping for lookback IP if presents.
 	if ci.Self {
@@ -1026,7 +1031,12 @@ func (p *prog) queryFromSelf(ip string) bool {
 	if val, ok := p.queryFromSelfMap.Load(ip); ok {
 		return val.(bool)
 	}
-	netIP := netip.MustParseAddr(ip)
+	netIP, err := netip.ParseAddr(ip)
+	if err != nil {
+		mainLog.Load().Debug().Err(err).Msgf("could not parse IP: %q", ip)
+		return false
+	}
+
 	regularIPs, loopbackIPs, err := netmon.LocalAddresses()
 	if err != nil {
 		mainLog.Load().Warn().Err(err).Msg("could not get local addresses")
diff --git a/cmd/cli/dns_proxy_test.go b/cmd/cli/dns_proxy_test.go
index 4a4e5b4..f909e96 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/dns_proxy_test.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/dns_proxy_test.go
@@ -464,3 +464,13 @@ func Test_isWanClient(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func Test_prog_queryFromSelf(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &prog{}
+	require.NotPanics(t, func() {
+		p.queryFromSelf("")
+	})
+	require.NotPanics(t, func() {
+		p.queryFromSelf("foo")
+	})
+}