diff --git a/providers/mysql/gda-mysql-provider.c b/providers/mysql/gda-mysql-provider.c
index 4087aa4..afb441f 100644
--- a/providers/mysql/gda-mysql-provider.c
+++ b/providers/mysql/gda-mysql-provider.c
@@ -512,6 +512,9 @@ real_open_connection (const gchar  *host,
 	MYSQL *mysql = g_new0 (MYSQL, 1);
 	mysql_init (mysql);
 
+	gint i = MYSQL_PROTOCOL_TCP;
+	mysql_options (mysql, MYSQL_OPT_PROTOCOL, (const char *)&i);
+
 	MYSQL *return_mysql = mysql_real_connect (mysql, host,
 						  username, password,
 #if MYSQL_VERSION_ID >= 32200
