diff --git a/lib/caronte/index.js b/lib/caronte/index.js
index 8a7e837..ef0187f 100644
--- a/lib/caronte/index.js
+++ b/lib/caronte/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 var caronte = exports,
     extend  = require('util')._extend,
+    parse_url = require('url').parse,
     web     = require('./passes/web-incoming'),
     ws      = require('./passes/ws-incoming');
 
@@ -56,7 +57,12 @@ function createRightProxy(type) {
 
       options.ee.emit(ev + 'begin', req, res); 
 
-      
+      ['target', 'forward'].forEach(
+        function(e) { 
+          if (typeof options[e] === 'string')
+            options[e] = parse_url(options[e]); 
+      });
+
       passes.some(function(pass) {
         var evnt = ev + pass.name.toLowerCase() + ':';