diff --git a/ts/proxies/smart-proxy/route-connection-handler.ts b/ts/proxies/smart-proxy/route-connection-handler.ts
index c08a0d4..557dd9a 100644
--- a/ts/proxies/smart-proxy/route-connection-handler.ts
+++ b/ts/proxies/smart-proxy/route-connection-handler.ts
@@ -301,22 +301,28 @@ export class RouteConnectionHandler {
       // Setup direct connection with default settings
       let targetHost: string;
       let targetPort: number;
-      
+
       if (isRoutedOptions(this.settings) && this.settings.defaults?.target) {
         // Use defaults from routed configuration
         targetHost = this.settings.defaults.target.host;
         targetPort = this.settings.defaults.target.port;
-      } else {
+      } else if (this.settings.targetIP && this.settings.toPort) {
         // Fall back to legacy settings
-        targetHost = this.settings.targetIP || 'localhost';
+        targetHost = this.settings.targetIP;
         targetPort = this.settings.toPort;
+      } else {
+        // No default target available, terminate the connection
+        console.log(`[${connectionId}] No default target configured. Closing connection.`);
+        socket.end();
+        this.connectionManager.cleanupConnection(record, 'no_default_target');
+        return;
       }
-      
+
       return this.setupDirectConnection(
-        socket, 
-        record, 
-        undefined, 
-        serverName, 
+        socket,
+        record,
+        undefined,
+        serverName,
         initialChunk,
         undefined,
         targetHost,