diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/remote/rdns.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/remote/rdns.py
index 78f66050..83853a98 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/remote/rdns.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/remote/rdns.py
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ def query_dns(typ, domain):
     ns = get_authoritative_ns(domain)
 
     # Query authoritative nameserver directly to bypass DNS cache.
-    res = shell(f"dig @{ns} -r -q {domain} -t {typ} +short", print=log_progress)
+    direct_ns = f"@{ns}" if ns else ""
+    res = shell(f"dig {direct_ns} -r -q {domain} -t {typ} +short", print=log_progress)
     return next((line for line in res.split("\n") if not line.startswith(";")), "")