"Unable to connect ...: Address family not supported by protocol" ?

Hi, I'm new to the list and couldn't see a list archive on the web site,
so forgive me if this is a FAQ.

I run iproxy, it says:

	[2002/12/07-15:00:10]:Accepting IRC connections on port:6667
	[2002/12/07-15:00:10]:Type /server localhost:6667 to connect, and then /join #anonymous

But when I start my IRC client and type:

	/server localhost:6667

then I get the error message:

	-:- Connecting to port 6667 of server localhost [refnum 1]
	-:- Unable to connect to port 6667 of server localhost: Address family not supported by protocol

I thought perhaps there is some kernel module I need that I have
not got installed, but, if so, what? 

Has anybody any ideas what the problem is? Any help appreciated!

I'm running Debian 3.0 with a very stripped down kernel (so many modules
which I didn't need up to now are missing). I'm also using iptables, 
but port 6667 (must it be accessible from outside?) *is* open.

My IRC client is bitchx. Connecting to a normal server works fine.

The version of iproxy is iip-1.1-rc3.

Thanks!

Alexis