diff --git a/src/console_cmds.cpp b/src/console_cmds.cpp
index 3929b44c11..90f635d60a 100644
--- a/src/console_cmds.cpp
+++ b/src/console_cmds.cpp
@@ -893,13 +893,13 @@ DEF_CONSOLE_CMD(ConNetworkReconnect)
 			break;
 	}
 
-	if (StrEmpty(_settings_client.network.last_joined)) {
+	if (_settings_client.network.last_joined.empty()) {
 		IConsolePrint(CC_DEFAULT, "No server for reconnecting.");
 		return true;
 	}
 
 	/* Don't resolve the address first, just print it directly as it comes from the config file. */
-	IConsolePrintF(CC_DEFAULT, "Reconnecting to %s ...", _settings_client.network.last_joined);
+	IConsolePrintF(CC_DEFAULT, "Reconnecting to %s ...", _settings_client.network.last_joined.c_str());
 
 	return NetworkClientConnectGame(_settings_client.network.last_joined, playas);
 }
diff --git a/src/network/network.cpp b/src/network/network.cpp
index b9160e2081..94566d2326 100644
--- a/src/network/network.cpp
+++ b/src/network/network.cpp
@@ -824,7 +824,7 @@ void NetworkClientJoinGame()
 	NetworkDisconnect();
 	NetworkInitialize();
 
-	strecpy(_settings_client.network.last_joined, _network_join.connection_string.c_str(), lastof(_settings_client.network.last_joined));
+	_settings_client.network.last_joined = _network_join.connection_string;
 	_network_join_status = NETWORK_JOIN_STATUS_CONNECTING;
 	ShowJoinStatusWindow();
 
diff --git a/src/network/network_gui.cpp b/src/network/network_gui.cpp
index 67992cac7e..ca0e67d0a2 100644
--- a/src/network/network_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/network/network_gui.cpp
@@ -828,7 +828,7 @@ public:
 	void OnQueryTextFinished(char *str) override
 	{
 		if (!StrEmpty(str)) {
-			strecpy(_settings_client.network.connect_to_ip, str, lastof(_settings_client.network.connect_to_ip));
+			_settings_client.network.connect_to_ip = str;
 			NetworkAddServer(str);
 			NetworkRebuildHostList();
 		}
@@ -1556,7 +1556,7 @@ static void ShowNetworkLobbyWindow(NetworkGameList *ngl)
 	DeleteWindowById(WC_NETWORK_WINDOW, WN_NETWORK_WINDOW_START);
 	DeleteWindowById(WC_NETWORK_WINDOW, WN_NETWORK_WINDOW_GAME);
 
-	strecpy(_settings_client.network.last_joined, ngl->connection_string.c_str(), lastof(_settings_client.network.last_joined));
+	_settings_client.network.last_joined = ngl->connection_string;
 
 	NetworkQueryLobbyServer(ngl->connection_string);
 
diff --git a/src/settings_type.h b/src/settings_type.h
index 248761fe64..0828baa58c 100644
--- a/src/settings_type.h
+++ b/src/settings_type.h
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ struct NetworkSettings {
 	bool   server_advertise;                              ///< advertise the server to the masterserver
 	char   client_name[NETWORK_CLIENT_NAME_LENGTH];       ///< name of the player (as client)
 	std::string default_company_pass;                     ///< default password for new companies in encrypted form
-	char   connect_to_ip[NETWORK_HOSTNAME_PORT_LENGTH];   ///< default for the "Add server" query
+	std::string connect_to_ip;                            ///< default for the "Add server" query
 	char   network_id[NETWORK_SERVER_ID_LENGTH];          ///< network ID for servers
 	bool   autoclean_companies;                           ///< automatically remove companies that are not in use
 	uint8  autoclean_unprotected;                         ///< remove passwordless companies after this many months
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ struct NetworkSettings {
 	Year   restart_game_year;                             ///< year the server restarts
 	uint8  min_active_clients;                            ///< minimum amount of active clients to unpause the game
 	bool   reload_cfg;                                    ///< reload the config file before restarting
-	char   last_joined[NETWORK_HOSTNAME_PORT_LENGTH];     ///< Last joined server
+	std::string last_joined;                              ///< Last joined server
 	bool   no_http_content_downloads;                     ///< do not do content downloads over HTTP
 };
 
diff --git a/src/table/settings.ini b/src/table/settings.ini
index e8fa4560be..6dbff01db4 100644
--- a/src/table/settings.ini
+++ b/src/table/settings.ini
@@ -3970,9 +3970,10 @@ def      = nullptr
 proc     = UpdateClientConfigValues
 cat      = SC_BASIC
 
-[SDTC_STR]
+[SDTC_SSTR]
 var      = network.connect_to_ip
-type     = SLE_STRB
+type     = SLE_STR
+length   = 0
 flags    = SLF_NOT_IN_SAVE | SLF_NO_NETWORK_SYNC
 def      = nullptr
 
@@ -4075,9 +4076,10 @@ guiflags = SGF_NETWORK_ONLY
 def      = false
 cat      = SC_EXPERT
 
-[SDTC_STR]
+[SDTC_SSTR]
 var      = network.last_joined
-type     = SLE_STRB
+type     = SLE_STR
+length   = 0
 flags    = SLF_NOT_IN_SAVE | SLF_NO_NETWORK_SYNC
 def      = """"
 cat      = SC_EXPERT