diff --git a/octavia/amphorae/backends/utils/udp_check.sh b/octavia/amphorae/backends/utils/udp_check.sh
index 12b4d55a88..37443b053c 100644
--- a/octavia/amphorae/backends/utils/udp_check.sh
+++ b/octavia/amphorae/backends/utils/udp_check.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,16 @@
 #!/bin/bash
+
 nc_cmd=`which nc`
-$nc_cmd -uzv -w1 $1 $2 > /dev/null
+
+nc_flavor=$($nc_cmd --version 2>&1 | grep -o nmap)
+case "$nc_flavor" in
+nmap)
+    nc_flavor_opts="-i1"
+    ;;
+*) # default, probably openbsd
+    nc_flavor_opts="-w1"
+    ;;
+esac
+
+$nc_cmd -uzv $nc_flavor_opts $1 $2 > /dev/null
 exit $?