diff --git a/include/uv.h b/include/uv.h
index 4bf4d6fe6..4f96ad97e 100644
--- a/include/uv.h
+++ b/include/uv.h
@@ -890,8 +890,9 @@ UV_EXTERN int uv_udp_open(uv_udp_t* handle, uv_os_sock_t sock);
  * This behavior is something of an anomaly and may be replaced by an explicit
  * opt-in mechanism in future versions of libuv.
  */
-UV_EXTERN int uv_udp_bind(uv_udp_t* handle, struct sockaddr_in addr,
-    unsigned flags);
+UV_EXTERN int uv_udp_bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
+                          const struct sockaddr_in* addr,
+                          unsigned flags);
 
 /*
  * Bind to a IPv6 address and port.
@@ -904,8 +905,9 @@ UV_EXTERN int uv_udp_bind(uv_udp_t* handle, struct sockaddr_in addr,
  * Returns:
  *  0 on success, or an error code < 0 on failure.
  */
-UV_EXTERN int uv_udp_bind6(uv_udp_t* handle, struct sockaddr_in6 addr,
-    unsigned flags);
+UV_EXTERN int uv_udp_bind6(uv_udp_t* handle,
+                           const struct sockaddr_in6* addr,
+                           unsigned flags);
 
 UV_EXTERN int uv_udp_getsockname(uv_udp_t* handle, struct sockaddr* name,
     int* namelen);
diff --git a/src/unix/udp.c b/src/unix/udp.c
index c96afc0ce..6c7482882 100644
--- a/src/unix/udp.c
+++ b/src/unix/udp.c
@@ -305,11 +305,10 @@ static int uv__set_reuse(int fd) {
 }
 
 
-static int uv__bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
-                    int domain,
-                    struct sockaddr* addr,
-                    socklen_t len,
-                    unsigned flags) {
+int uv__udp_bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
+                 const struct sockaddr* addr,
+                 unsigned int addrlen,
+                 unsigned int flags) {
   int err;
   int yes;
   int fd;
@@ -322,12 +321,12 @@ static int uv__bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
     return -EINVAL;
 
   /* Cannot set IPv6-only mode on non-IPv6 socket. */
-  if ((flags & UV_UDP_IPV6ONLY) && domain != AF_INET6)
+  if ((flags & UV_UDP_IPV6ONLY) && addr->sa_family != AF_INET6)
     return -EINVAL;
 
   fd = handle->io_watcher.fd;
   if (fd == -1) {
-    fd = uv__socket(domain, SOCK_DGRAM, 0);
+    fd = uv__socket(addr->sa_family, SOCK_DGRAM, 0);
     if (fd == -1)
       return -errno;
     handle->io_watcher.fd = fd;
@@ -350,7 +349,7 @@ static int uv__bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
 #endif
   }
 
-  if (bind(fd, addr, len) == -1) {
+  if (bind(fd, addr, addrlen)) {
     err = -errno;
     goto out;
   }
@@ -397,7 +396,7 @@ static int uv__udp_maybe_deferred_bind(uv_udp_t* handle, int domain) {
     abort();
   }
 
-  return uv__bind(handle, domain, (struct sockaddr*)&taddr, addrlen, 0);
+  return uv__udp_bind(handle, (const struct sockaddr*) &taddr, addrlen, 0);
 }
 
 
@@ -452,24 +451,6 @@ int uv_udp_init(uv_loop_t* loop, uv_udp_t* handle) {
 }
 
 
-int uv__udp_bind(uv_udp_t* handle, struct sockaddr_in addr, unsigned flags) {
-  return uv__bind(handle,
-                  AF_INET,
-                  (struct sockaddr*)&addr,
-                  sizeof addr,
-                  flags);
-}
-
-
-int uv__udp_bind6(uv_udp_t* handle, struct sockaddr_in6 addr, unsigned flags) {
-  return uv__bind(handle,
-                  AF_INET6,
-                  (struct sockaddr*)&addr,
-                  sizeof addr,
-                  flags);
-}
-
-
 int uv_udp_open(uv_udp_t* handle, uv_os_sock_t sock) {
   int err;
 
diff --git a/src/uv-common.c b/src/uv-common.c
index 944ca64df..83ee12dc8 100644
--- a/src/uv-common.c
+++ b/src/uv-common.c
@@ -201,22 +201,28 @@ int uv_tcp_bind6(uv_tcp_t* handle, const struct sockaddr_in6* addr) {
 
 
 int uv_udp_bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
-                struct sockaddr_in addr,
+                const struct sockaddr_in* addr,
                 unsigned int flags) {
-  if (handle->type != UV_UDP || addr.sin_family != AF_INET)
-    return UV_EINVAL;
-  else
-    return uv__udp_bind(handle, addr, flags);
+  if (handle->type == UV_UDP && addr->sin_family == AF_INET) {
+    return uv__udp_bind(handle,
+                        (const struct sockaddr*) addr,
+                        sizeof(*addr),
+                        flags);
+  }
+  return UV_EINVAL;
 }
 
 
 int uv_udp_bind6(uv_udp_t* handle,
-                 struct sockaddr_in6 addr,
+                 const struct sockaddr_in6* addr,
                  unsigned int flags) {
-  if (handle->type != UV_UDP || addr.sin6_family != AF_INET6)
-    return UV_EINVAL;
-  else
-    return uv__udp_bind6(handle, addr, flags);
+  if (handle->type == UV_UDP && addr->sin6_family == AF_INET6) {
+    return uv__udp_bind(handle,
+                        (const struct sockaddr*) addr,
+                        sizeof(*addr),
+                        flags);
+  }
+  return UV_EINVAL;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/uv-common.h b/src/uv-common.h
index f1e88602c..b933b98a0 100644
--- a/src/uv-common.h
+++ b/src/uv-common.h
@@ -63,15 +63,17 @@ int uv__tcp_bind(uv_tcp_t* tcp,
                  const struct sockaddr* addr,
                  unsigned int addrlen);
 
-int uv__udp_bind(uv_udp_t* handle, struct sockaddr_in addr, unsigned flags);
-int uv__udp_bind6(uv_udp_t* handle, struct sockaddr_in6 addr, unsigned flags);
-
 int uv__tcp_connect(uv_connect_t* req,
                    uv_tcp_t* handle,
                    const struct sockaddr* addr,
                    unsigned int addrlen,
                    uv_connect_cb cb);
 
+int uv__udp_bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
+                 const struct sockaddr* addr,
+                 unsigned int  addrlen,
+                 unsigned int flags);
+
 int uv__udp_send(uv_udp_send_t* req,
                  uv_udp_t* handle,
                  uv_buf_t bufs[],
diff --git a/src/win/udp.c b/src/win/udp.c
index 0a5d0600d..c7c011591 100644
--- a/src/win/udp.c
+++ b/src/win/udp.c
@@ -167,37 +167,36 @@ void uv_udp_endgame(uv_loop_t* loop, uv_udp_t* handle) {
 }
 
 
-static int uv__bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
-                    int family,
-                    struct sockaddr* addr,
-                    int addrsize,
-                    unsigned int flags) {
+static int uv_udp_try_bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
+                           const struct sockaddr* addr,
+                           unsigned int addrlen,
+                           unsigned int flags) {
   int r;
   int err;
   DWORD no = 0;
 
-  if ((flags & UV_UDP_IPV6ONLY) && family != AF_INET6) {
+  if ((flags & UV_UDP_IPV6ONLY) && addr->sa_family != AF_INET6) {
     /* UV_UDP_IPV6ONLY is supported only for IPV6 sockets */
     return ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER;
   }
 
   if (handle->socket == INVALID_SOCKET) {
-    SOCKET sock = socket(family, SOCK_DGRAM, 0);
+    SOCKET sock = socket(addr->sa_family, SOCK_DGRAM, 0);
     if (sock == INVALID_SOCKET) {
       return WSAGetLastError();
     }
 
-    err = uv_udp_set_socket(handle->loop, handle, sock, family);
+    err = uv_udp_set_socket(handle->loop, handle, sock, addr->sa_family);
     if (err) {
       closesocket(sock);
       return err;
     }
 
-    if (family == AF_INET6)
+    if (addr->sa_family == AF_INET6)
       handle->flags |= UV_HANDLE_IPV6;
   }
 
-  if (family == AF_INET6 && !(flags & UV_UDP_IPV6ONLY)) {
+  if (addr->sa_family == AF_INET6 && !(flags & UV_UDP_IPV6ONLY)) {
     /* On windows IPV6ONLY is on by default. */
     /* If the user doesn't specify it libuv turns it off. */
 
@@ -211,7 +210,7 @@ static int uv__bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
                sizeof no);
   }
 
-  r = bind(handle->socket, addr, addrsize);
+  r = bind(handle->socket, addr, addrlen);
   if (r == SOCKET_ERROR) {
     return WSAGetLastError();
   }
@@ -222,36 +221,6 @@ static int uv__bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
 }
 
 
-int uv__udp_bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
-                 struct sockaddr_in addr,
-                 unsigned int flags) {
-  int err;
-
-  err = uv__bind(handle,
-                 AF_INET,
-                 (struct sockaddr*) &addr,
-                 sizeof(addr),
-                 flags);
-
-  return uv_translate_sys_error(err);
-}
-
-
-int uv__udp_bind6(uv_udp_t* handle,
-                  struct sockaddr_in6 addr,
-                  unsigned int flags) {
-  int err;
-
-  err = uv__bind(handle,
-                 AF_INET6,
-                 (struct sockaddr*) &addr,
-                 sizeof(addr),
-                 flags);
-
-  return uv_translate_sys_error(err);
-}
-
-
 static void uv_udp_queue_recv(uv_loop_t* loop, uv_udp_t* handle) {
   uv_req_t* req;
   uv_buf_t buf;
@@ -355,7 +324,10 @@ int uv__udp_recv_start(uv_udp_t* handle, uv_alloc_cb alloc_cb,
   }
 
   if (!(handle->flags & UV_HANDLE_BOUND)) {
-    err = uv_udp_bind(handle, uv_addr_ip4_any_, 0);
+    err = uv_udp_try_bind(handle,
+                          (const struct sockaddr*) &uv_addr_ip4_any_,
+                          sizeof(uv_addr_ip4_any_),
+                          0);
     if (err)
       return err;
   }
@@ -433,7 +405,10 @@ int uv__udp_send(uv_udp_send_t* req, uv_udp_t* handle, uv_buf_t bufs[],
   int err;
 
   if (!(handle->flags & UV_HANDLE_BOUND)) {
-    err = uv_udp_bind(handle, uv_addr_ip4_any_, 0);
+    err = uv_udp_try_bind(handle,
+                          (const struct sockaddr*) &uv_addr_ip4_any_,
+                          sizeof(uv_addr_ip4_any_),
+                          0);
     if (err)
       return err;
   }
@@ -453,7 +428,10 @@ int uv__udp_send6(uv_udp_send_t* req, uv_udp_t* handle, uv_buf_t bufs[],
   int err;
 
   if (!(handle->flags & UV_HANDLE_BOUND)) {
-    err = uv_udp_bind6(handle, uv_addr_ip6_any_, 0);
+    err = uv_udp_try_bind(handle,
+                          (const struct sockaddr*) &uv_addr_ip6_any_,
+                          sizeof(uv_addr_ip6_any_),
+                          0);
     if (err)
       return err;
   }
@@ -602,7 +580,10 @@ int uv_udp_set_membership(uv_udp_t* handle, const char* multicast_addr,
 
   /* If the socket is unbound, bind to inaddr_any. */
   if (!(handle->flags & UV_HANDLE_BOUND)) {
-    err = uv__udp_bind(handle, uv_addr_ip4_any_, 0);
+    err = uv_udp_try_bind(handle,
+                          (const struct sockaddr*) &uv_addr_ip4_any_,
+                          sizeof(uv_addr_ip4_any_),
+                          0);
     if (err)
       return uv_translate_sys_error(err);
   }
@@ -650,7 +631,10 @@ int uv_udp_set_broadcast(uv_udp_t* handle, int value) {
 
   /* If the socket is unbound, bind to inaddr_any. */
   if (!(handle->flags & UV_HANDLE_BOUND)) {
-    err = uv__udp_bind(handle, uv_addr_ip4_any_, 0);
+    err = uv_udp_try_bind(handle,
+                          (const struct sockaddr*) &uv_addr_ip4_any_,
+                          sizeof(uv_addr_ip4_any_),
+                          0);
     if (err)
       return uv_translate_sys_error(err);
   }
@@ -701,7 +685,10 @@ int uv_udp_open(uv_udp_t* handle, uv_os_sock_t sock) {
                                                                               \
     /* If the socket is unbound, bind to inaddr_any. */                       \
     if (!(handle->flags & UV_HANDLE_BOUND)) {                                 \
-      err = uv__udp_bind(handle, uv_addr_ip4_any_, 0);                        \
+      err = uv_udp_try_bind(handle,                                           \
+                            (const struct sockaddr*) &uv_addr_ip4_any_,       \
+                            sizeof(uv_addr_ip4_any_),                         \
+                            0);                                               \
       if (err)                                                                \
         return uv_translate_sys_error(err);                                   \
     }                                                                         \
@@ -749,3 +736,20 @@ SOCKOPT_SETTER(multicast_loop,
 #undef VALIDATE_TTL
 #undef VALIDATE_MULTICAST_TTL
 #undef VALIDATE_MULTICAST_LOOP
+
+
+/* This function is an egress point, i.e. it returns libuv errors rather than
+ * system errors.
+ */
+int uv__udp_bind(uv_udp_t* handle,
+                 const struct sockaddr* addr,
+                 unsigned int addrlen,
+                 unsigned int flags) {
+  int err;
+
+  err = uv_udp_try_bind(handle, addr, addrlen, flags);
+  if (err)
+    return uv_translate_sys_error(err);
+
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/test/benchmark-udp-pummel.c b/test/benchmark-udp-pummel.c
index 80d2bfc77..ce66600f6 100644
--- a/test/benchmark-udp-pummel.c
+++ b/test/benchmark-udp-pummel.c
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ static int pummel(unsigned int n_senders,
     struct sockaddr_in addr;
     ASSERT(0 == uv_ip4_addr("0.0.0.0", BASE_PORT + i, &addr));
     ASSERT(0 == uv_udp_init(loop, &s->udp_handle));
-    ASSERT(0 == uv_udp_bind(&s->udp_handle, addr, 0));
+    ASSERT(0 == uv_udp_bind(&s->udp_handle, &addr, 0));
     ASSERT(0 == uv_udp_recv_start(&s->udp_handle, alloc_cb, recv_cb));
     uv_unref((uv_handle_t*)&s->udp_handle);
   }
diff --git a/test/test-getsockname.c b/test/test-getsockname.c
index c530122c5..57d276f27 100644
--- a/test/test-getsockname.c
+++ b/test/test-getsockname.c
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ static int udp_listener(void) {
     return 1;
   }
 
-  r = uv_udp_bind(&udpServer, addr, 0);
+  r = uv_udp_bind(&udpServer, &addr, 0);
   if (r) {
     fprintf(stderr, "Bind error\n");
     return 1;
diff --git a/test/test-ref.c b/test/test-ref.c
index a77a731f1..aea1244e7 100644
--- a/test/test-ref.c
+++ b/test/test-ref.c
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ TEST_IMPL(udp_ref2) {
   uv_udp_t h;
   ASSERT(0 == uv_ip4_addr("127.0.0.1", TEST_PORT, &addr));
   uv_udp_init(uv_default_loop(), &h);
-  uv_udp_bind(&h, addr, 0);
+  uv_udp_bind(&h, &addr, 0);
   uv_udp_recv_start(&h, (uv_alloc_cb)fail_cb, (uv_udp_recv_cb)fail_cb);
   uv_unref((uv_handle_t*)&h);
   uv_run(uv_default_loop(), UV_RUN_DEFAULT);
diff --git a/test/test-udp-ipv6.c b/test/test-udp-ipv6.c
index aaf54a8d1..1f501a239 100644
--- a/test/test-udp-ipv6.c
+++ b/test/test-udp-ipv6.c
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ static void do_test(uv_udp_recv_cb recv_cb, int bind_flags) {
   r = uv_udp_init(uv_default_loop(), &server);
   ASSERT(r == 0);
 
-  r = uv_udp_bind6(&server, addr6, bind_flags);
+  r = uv_udp_bind6(&server, &addr6, bind_flags);
   ASSERT(r == 0);
 
   r = uv_udp_recv_start(&server, alloc_cb, recv_cb);
diff --git a/test/test-udp-multicast-join.c b/test/test-udp-multicast-join.c
index 5545c3f49..3b162e247 100644
--- a/test/test-udp-multicast-join.c
+++ b/test/test-udp-multicast-join.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ TEST_IMPL(udp_multicast_join) {
   ASSERT(r == 0);
 
   /* bind to the desired port */
-  r = uv_udp_bind(&client, addr, 0);
+  r = uv_udp_bind(&client, &addr, 0);
   ASSERT(r == 0);
 
   /* join the multicast channel */
diff --git a/test/test-udp-multicast-ttl.c b/test/test-udp-multicast-ttl.c
index 6d868ff85..194ff90f5 100644
--- a/test/test-udp-multicast-ttl.c
+++ b/test/test-udp-multicast-ttl.c
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ TEST_IMPL(udp_multicast_ttl) {
   ASSERT(r == 0);
 
   ASSERT(0 == uv_ip4_addr("0.0.0.0", 0, &addr));
-  r = uv_udp_bind(&server, addr, 0);
+  r = uv_udp_bind(&server, &addr, 0);
   ASSERT(r == 0);
 
   r = uv_udp_set_multicast_ttl(&server, 32);
diff --git a/test/test-udp-open.c b/test/test-udp-open.c
index c23d53c4f..3c554e478 100644
--- a/test/test-udp-open.c
+++ b/test/test-udp-open.c
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ TEST_IMPL(udp_open) {
   r = uv_udp_open(&client, sock);
   ASSERT(r == 0);
 
-  r = uv_udp_bind(&client, addr, 0);
+  r = uv_udp_bind(&client, &addr, 0);
   ASSERT(r == 0);
 
   r = uv_udp_recv_start(&client, alloc_cb, recv_cb);
diff --git a/test/test-udp-options.c b/test/test-udp-options.c
index 7923fa342..af90a5751 100644
--- a/test/test-udp-options.c
+++ b/test/test-udp-options.c
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ TEST_IMPL(udp_options) {
 
   uv_unref((uv_handle_t*)&h); /* don't keep the loop alive */
 
-  r = uv_udp_bind(&h, addr, 0);
+  r = uv_udp_bind(&h, &addr, 0);
   ASSERT(r == 0);
 
   r = uv_udp_set_broadcast(&h, 1);
diff --git a/test/test-udp-send-and-recv.c b/test/test-udp-send-and-recv.c
index f90a182f1..db31937e1 100644
--- a/test/test-udp-send-and-recv.c
+++ b/test/test-udp-send-and-recv.c
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ TEST_IMPL(udp_send_and_recv) {
   r = uv_udp_init(uv_default_loop(), &server);
   ASSERT(r == 0);
 
-  r = uv_udp_bind(&server, addr, 0);
+  r = uv_udp_bind(&server, &addr, 0);
   ASSERT(r == 0);
 
   r = uv_udp_recv_start(&server, alloc_cb, sv_recv_cb);