diff --git a/ironic/common/json_rpc/client.py b/ironic/common/json_rpc/client.py
index 10c44928e6..b1953d4863 100644
--- a/ironic/common/json_rpc/client.py
+++ b/ironic/common/json_rpc/client.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ This client is compatible with any JSON RPC 2.0 implementation, including ours.
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log
 from oslo_utils import importutils
+from oslo_utils import netutils
 from oslo_utils import strutils
 from oslo_utils import uuidutils
 
@@ -156,7 +157,9 @@ class _CallContext(object):
         scheme = 'http'
         if CONF.json_rpc.use_ssl:
             scheme = 'https'
-        url = '%s://%s:%d' % (scheme, self.host, CONF.json_rpc.port)
+        url = '%s://%s:%d' % (scheme,
+                              netutils.escape_ipv6(self.host),
+                              CONF.json_rpc.port)
         result = _get_session().post(url, json=body)
         LOG.debug('RPC %s returned %s', method,
                   strutils.mask_password(result.text or '<None>'))
diff --git a/ironic/tests/unit/common/test_json_rpc.py b/ironic/tests/unit/common/test_json_rpc.py
index 99288f481a..e30e660d38 100644
--- a/ironic/tests/unit/common/test_json_rpc.py
+++ b/ironic/tests/unit/common/test_json_rpc.py
@@ -318,6 +318,40 @@ class TestClient(test_base.TestCase):
                   'params': {'answer': 42, 'context': self.ctx_json},
                   'id': self.context.request_id})
 
+    def test_call_ipv4_success(self, mock_session):
+        response = mock_session.return_value.post.return_value
+        response.json.return_value = {
+            'jsonrpc': '2.0',
+            'result': 42
+        }
+        cctx = self.client.prepare('foo.192.0.2.1')
+        self.assertEqual('192.0.2.1', cctx.host)
+        result = cctx.call(self.context, 'do_something', answer=42)
+        self.assertEqual(42, result)
+        mock_session.return_value.post.assert_called_once_with(
+            'http://192.0.2.1:8089',
+            json={'jsonrpc': '2.0',
+                  'method': 'do_something',
+                  'params': {'answer': 42, 'context': self.ctx_json},
+                  'id': self.context.request_id})
+
+    def test_call_ipv6_success(self, mock_session):
+        response = mock_session.return_value.post.return_value
+        response.json.return_value = {
+            'jsonrpc': '2.0',
+            'result': 42
+        }
+        cctx = self.client.prepare('foo.2001:db8::1')
+        self.assertEqual('2001:db8::1', cctx.host)
+        result = cctx.call(self.context, 'do_something', answer=42)
+        self.assertEqual(42, result)
+        mock_session.return_value.post.assert_called_once_with(
+            'http://[2001:db8::1]:8089',
+            json={'jsonrpc': '2.0',
+                  'method': 'do_something',
+                  'params': {'answer': 42, 'context': self.ctx_json},
+                  'id': self.context.request_id})
+
     def test_call_success_with_version(self, mock_session):
         response = mock_session.return_value.post.return_value
         response.json.return_value = {
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/json-rpc-ipv6-host-30eca350f34bc091.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/json-rpc-ipv6-host-30eca350f34bc091.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..96944012c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/json-rpc-ipv6-host-30eca350f34bc091.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    When configured to use json-rpc, the ``[DEFAULT].host`` configuration
+    option to ironic-conductor can now be set to an IPv6 address. Previously
+    it could only be an IPv4 address or a DNS name.