diff --git a/python/ray/scripts/scripts.py b/python/ray/scripts/scripts.py
index 5f25b29e0..b17192a6e 100644
--- a/python/ray/scripts/scripts.py
+++ b/python/ray/scripts/scripts.py
@@ -236,15 +236,11 @@ def start(node_ip_address, redis_address, address, redis_port,
     # Convert hostnames to numerical IP address.
     if node_ip_address is not None:
         node_ip_address = services.address_to_ip(node_ip_address)
-    if redis_address is not None:
-        redis_address = services.address_to_ip(redis_address)
-    if address:
-        if redis_address:
-            raise ValueError(
-                "You should specify address instead of redis_address.")
-        if address == "auto":
-            address = services.find_redis_address_or_die()
-        redis_address = address
+
+    if redis_address is not None or address is not None:
+        (redis_address, redis_address_ip,
+         redis_address_port) = services.validate_redis_address(
+             address, redis_address)
 
     try:
         resources = json.loads(resources)
@@ -339,10 +335,10 @@ def start(node_ip_address, redis_address, address, redis_port,
         # Start Ray on a non-head node.
         if redis_port is not None:
             raise Exception("If --head is not passed in, --redis-port is not "
-                            "allowed")
+                            "allowed.")
         if redis_shard_ports is not None:
             raise Exception("If --head is not passed in, --redis-shard-ports "
-                            "is not allowed")
+                            "is not allowed.")
         if redis_address is None:
             raise Exception("If --head is not passed in, --redis-address must "
                             "be provided.")
@@ -359,12 +355,10 @@ def start(node_ip_address, redis_address, address, redis_port,
             raise ValueError("--include-java should only be set for the head "
                              "node.")
 
-        redis_ip_address, redis_port = redis_address.split(":")
-
         # Wait for the Redis server to be started. And throw an exception if we
         # can't connect to it.
         services.wait_for_redis_to_start(
-            redis_ip_address, int(redis_port), password=redis_password)
+            redis_address_ip, redis_address_port, password=redis_password)
 
         # Create a Redis client.
         redis_client = services.create_redis_client(
diff --git a/python/ray/services.py b/python/ray/services.py
index 598b7f360..69ee0dc70 100644
--- a/python/ray/services.py
+++ b/python/ray/services.py
@@ -203,6 +203,51 @@ def remaining_processes_alive():
     return ray.worker._global_node.remaining_processes_alive()
 
 
+def validate_redis_address(address, redis_address):
+    """Validates redis address parameter and splits it into host/ip components.
+
+    We temporarily support both 'address' and 'redis_address', so both are
+    handled here.
+
+    Returns:
+        redis_address: string containing the full <host:port> address.
+        redis_ip: string representing the host portion of the address.
+        redis_port: integer representing the port portion of the address.
+
+    Raises:
+        ValueError: if both address and redis_address were specified or the
+            address was malformed.
+    """
+
+    if redis_address == "auto":
+        raise ValueError("auto address resolution not supported for "
+                         "redis_address parameter. Please use address.")
+
+    if address:
+        if redis_address:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Both address and redis_address specified. Use only address.")
+        if address == "auto":
+            address = find_redis_address_or_die()
+        redis_address = address
+
+    redis_address = address_to_ip(redis_address)
+
+    redis_address_parts = redis_address.split(":")
+    if len(redis_address_parts) != 2:
+        raise ValueError("Malformed address. Expected '<host>:<port>'.")
+    redis_ip = redis_address_parts[0]
+    try:
+        redis_port = int(redis_address_parts[1])
+    except ValueError:
+        raise ValueError("Malformed address port. Must be an integer.")
+    if redis_port < 1024 or redis_port > 65535:
+        raise ValueError("Invalid address port. Must "
+                         "be between 1024 and 65535.")
+
+    return redis_address, redis_ip, redis_port
+
+
 def address_to_ip(address):
     """Convert a hostname to a numerical IP addresses in an address.
 
diff --git a/python/ray/worker.py b/python/ray/worker.py
index 05b2c3862..6047d0d7b 100644
--- a/python/ray/worker.py
+++ b/python/ray/worker.py
@@ -1405,13 +1405,9 @@ def init(address=None,
             arguments is passed in.
     """
 
-    if address:
-        if redis_address:
-            raise ValueError(
-                "You should specify address instead of redis_address.")
-        if address == "auto":
-            address = services.find_redis_address_or_die()
-        redis_address = address
+    if redis_address is not None or address is not None:
+        redis_address, _, _ = services.validate_redis_address(
+            address, redis_address)
 
     if configure_logging:
         setup_logger(logging_level, logging_format)
@@ -1441,8 +1437,6 @@ def init(address=None,
     # Convert hostnames to numerical IP address.
     if node_ip_address is not None:
         node_ip_address = services.address_to_ip(node_ip_address)
-    if redis_address is not None:
-        redis_address = services.address_to_ip(redis_address)
 
     global _global_node
     if driver_mode == LOCAL_MODE: