--- connectors/util/java/org/apache/tomcat/util/net/jsse/JSSESocketFactory.java	(revision 1069167)
+++ connectors/util/java/org/apache/tomcat/util/net/jsse/JSSESocketFactory.java	(working copy)
@@ -418,10 +418,15 @@ 
      */
     protected void checkConfig() throws IOException {
         // Create an unbound server socket
-        ServerSocket socket =
-            JdkCompat.getJdkCompat().getUnboundSocket(sslProxy);
+        ServerSocket socket = null;
+        try {
+            socket = JdkCompat.getJdkCompat().getUnboundSocket(sslProxy);
+        } catch (IOException ex) {
+            // Bug 50744:
+            // Some old JDKs do not implement unbound sockets
+        }
         if (socket == null) {
-            // Can create unbound sockets (1.3 JVM) - can't test the connection
+            // Can't create unbound sockets (1.3 JVM) - can't test the connection
             return;
         }
         initServerSocket(socket);