diff --git a/doc/manuals/chapters/remsim-bankd.adoc b/doc/manuals/chapters/remsim-bankd.adoc
index 4df0844..e87de52 100644
--- a/doc/manuals/chapters/remsim-bankd.adoc
+++ b/doc/manuals/chapters/remsim-bankd.adoc
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ approach seems to make more sense.
 
 ==== SYNOPSIS
 
-*osmo-remsim-bankd* [-h] [-V] [-d LOGOPT] [-i A.B.C.D] [-p <1-65535>] [-b <1-1023>] [-n <1-1023>] [-I A.B.C.D] [-P <1-65535> ]
+*osmo-remsim-bankd* [-h] [-V] [-d LOGOPT] -i A.B.C.D [-p <1-65535>] [-b <1-1023>] [-n <1-1023>] [-I A.B.C.D] [-P <1-65535> ]
 
 ==== OPTIONS
 
@@ -73,7 +73,9 @@ approach seems to make more sense.
   Configure the logging verbosity, see <<remsim_logging>>.
 *-i, --server-host A.B.C.D*::
   Specify the remote IP address/hostname of the `osmo-remsim-server` to
-  which this bankd shall establish its RSPRO control connection
+  which this bankd shall establish its RSPRO control connection.  Do not specify a loopback
+  address or localhost, as this would in most cases result in a broken configuration where
+  a [usually remote] remsim-client attempts to reach the bankd via loopback, which doesn't work.
 *-p, --server-port <1-65535>*::
   Specify the remote TCP port number of the `osmo-remsim-server` to which
   this bankd shall establish its RSPRO control connection
diff --git a/src/bankd/bankd_main.c b/src/bankd/bankd_main.c
index e002b94..212e606 100644
--- a/src/bankd/bankd_main.c
+++ b/src/bankd/bankd_main.c
@@ -284,13 +284,13 @@ send_resp:
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static void printf_help()
+static void printf_help(FILE *out)
 {
-	printf(
+	fprintf(out,
 "  -h --help                    Print this help message\n"
 "  -V --version                 Print the version of the program\n"
 "  -d --debug option            Enable debug logging (e.g. DMAIN:DST2)\n"
-"  -i --server-host A.B.C.D     remsim-server IP address (default: 127.0.0.1)\n"
+"  -i --server-host A.B.C.D     remsim-server IP address (mandatory)\n"
 "  -p --server-port <1-65535>   remsim-server TCP port (default: 9998)\n"
 "  -b --bank-id <1-1023>        Bank Identifier of this SIM bank (default: 1)\n"
 "  -n --num-slots <1-1023>      Number of Slots in this SIM bank (default: 8)\n"
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ static void handle_options(int argc, char **argv)
 
 		switch (c) {
 		case 'h':
-			printf_help();
+			printf_help(stdout);
 			exit(0);
 			break;
 		case 'V':
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	bankd_init(g_bankd);
 
 	srvc = &g_bankd->srvc;
-	srvc->server_host = "localhost";
+	srvc->server_host = NULL;
 	srvc->server_port = 9998;
 	srvc->handle_rx = bankd_srvc_handle_rx;
 	srvc->own_comp_id.type = ComponentType_remsimBankd;
@@ -407,6 +407,13 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	handle_options(argc, argv);
 
+	if (!srvc->server_host) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: You must specify the host name / IP of the remsim-server to which "
+			"the bankd shall connect to\n\n");
+		printf_help(stderr);
+		exit(2);
+	}
+
 	g_bankd->main = pthread_self();
 	signal(SIGMAPDEL, handle_sig_mapdel);
 	signal(SIGMAPADD, handle_sig_mapadd);