diff --git a/scripts/docker_check.sh b/scripts/docker_check.sh
index b4c9253..4633574 100755
--- a/scripts/docker_check.sh
+++ b/scripts/docker_check.sh
@@ -7,19 +7,32 @@ set -e
 # Checks the most recent state exit code of a Docker container
 #################
 
-container_name=$1
+# Docker host will default to a socket
+# To override, export DOCKER_HOST to a new hostname
+DOCKER_HOST="${DOCKER_HOST:=socket}"
+container_name="$1"
+
+# Curls Docker either using a socket or URL
+function curl_docker {
+    local path="$1"
+    if [ "$DOCKER_HOST" == "socket" ]; then
+        curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock "http://localhost/$path" 2>/dev/null
+    else
+        curl "http://${DOCKER_HOST}/$path" 2>/dev/null
+    fi
+}
 
 # Returns caintainer ID for a given container name
 function get_container_id {
-    local container_name=$1
-    curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock 'http://localhost/containers/json?all=1' 2>/dev/null \
+    local container_name="$1"
+    curl_docker 'containers/json?all=1' \
         | jq -r ".[] | {Id, Name: .Names[]} | select(.Name == \"/${container_name}\") | .Id"
 }
 
 # Returns container JSON
 function inspect_container {
     local container_id=$1
-    curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock http://localhost/containers/$container_id/json 2>/dev/null
+    curl_docker "containers/$container_id/json"
 }
 
 if [ -z "$container_name" ]; then
@@ -33,6 +46,6 @@ if [ -z "$container_id" ]; then
     echo "ERROR: Could not find container with name: $container_name"
     exit 1
 fi
-exit_code=$(inspect_container $container_id | jq -r .State.ExitCode)
+exit_code=$(inspect_container "$container_id" | jq -r .State.ExitCode)
 
-exit $exit_code
+exit "$exit_code"
diff --git a/scripts/docker_healthcheck.sh b/scripts/docker_healthcheck.sh
index 7cbd6fc..2196860 100755
--- a/scripts/docker_healthcheck.sh
+++ b/scripts/docker_healthcheck.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #! /bin/bash
+set -e
 
 #################
 # docker_healthcheck.sh
@@ -6,19 +7,32 @@
 # Returns the results of a Docker Healthcheck for a container
 #################
 
-container_name=$1
+# Docker host will default to a socket
+# To override, export DOCKER_HOST to a new hostname
+DOCKER_HOST="${DOCKER_HOST:=socket}"
+container_name="$1"
+
+# Curls Docker either using a socket or URL
+function curl_docker {
+    local path="$1"
+    if [ "$DOCKER_HOST" == "socket" ]; then
+        curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock "http://localhost/$path" 2>/dev/null
+    else
+        curl "http://${DOCKER_HOST}/$path" 2>/dev/null
+    fi
+}
 
 # Returns caintainer ID for a given container name
 function get_container_id {
-    local container_name=$1
-    curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock 'http://localhost/containers/json?all=1' 2>/dev/null \
+    local container_name="$1"
+    curl_docker 'containers/json?all=1' \
         | jq -r ".[] | {Id, Name: .Names[]} | select(.Name == \"/${container_name}\") | .Id"
 }
 
 # Returns container JSON
 function inspect_container {
-    local container_id=$1
-    curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock http://localhost/containers/$container_id/json 2>/dev/null
+    local container_id="$1"
+    curl_docker "containers/$container_id/json"
 }
 
 if [ -z "$container_name" ]; then
@@ -27,14 +41,14 @@ if [ -z "$container_name" ]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
-container_id=$(get_container_id $container_name)
+container_id=$(get_container_id "$container_name")
 if [ -z "$container_id" ]; then
     echo "ERROR: Could not find container with name: $container_name"
     exit 1
 fi
-health=$(inspect_container $container_id | jq -r '.State.Health.Status')
+health=$(inspect_container "$container_id" | jq -r '.State.Health.Status')
 
-case $health in
+case "$health" in
     "null")
         echo "No healthcheck results"
         ;;