diff --git a/model/MySQLDatabase.php b/model/MySQLDatabase.php
index e85f26123..597532a4b 100644
--- a/model/MySQLDatabase.php
+++ b/model/MySQLDatabase.php
@@ -54,7 +54,12 @@ class MySQLDatabase extends SS_Database {
 	 *  - timezone: (optional) The timezone offset. For example: +12:00, "Pacific/Auckland", or "SYSTEM"
 	 */
 	public function __construct($parameters) {
-		$this->dbConn = new MySQLi($parameters['server'], $parameters['username'], $parameters['password']);
+		if(!empty($parameters['port'])) {
+			$this->dbConn = new MySQLi($parameters['server'], $parameters['username'], $parameters['password'],
+				'', $parameters['port']);
+		} else {
+			$this->dbConn = new MySQLi($parameters['server'], $parameters['username'], $parameters['password']);
+		}
 		
 		if($this->dbConn->connect_error) {
 			$this->databaseError("Couldn't connect to MySQL database | " . $this->dbConn->connect_error);