diff --git a/kombu/transport/redis.py b/kombu/transport/redis.py
index 244730ec..c64b7251 100644
--- a/kombu/transport/redis.py
+++ b/kombu/transport/redis.py
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ class Channel(virtual.Channel):
                 raise ValueError(
                     "Database name must be int between 0 and limit - 1")
 
-        return self.Client(host=conninfo.hostname,
+        return self.Client(host=conninfo.hostname or "127.0.0.1",
                            port=conninfo.port or DEFAULT_PORT,
                            db=database,
                            password=conninfo.password)
diff --git a/kombu/utils/url.py b/kombu/utils/url.py
index e2fbc58d..e5396e00 100644
--- a/kombu/utils/url.py
+++ b/kombu/utils/url.py
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ def _parse_url(url):
     # This enables the use of replica sets and sharding.
     # See pymongo.Connection() for more info.
     hostname = schemeless if scheme == 'mongodb' else parts.hostname
-    path = (parts.path or '').lstrip('/')
+    path = parts.path or ''
+    path = path[1:] if path and path[0] == '/' else path
     return (scheme, unquote(hostname or '') or None,
             int(parts.port) if parts.port else None,
             unquote(parts.username or '') or None,