diff --git a/lite2/provider/http/http.go b/lite2/provider/http/http.go
index dff5e4d1d..a7d8534b4 100644
--- a/lite2/provider/http/http.go
+++ b/lite2/provider/http/http.go
@@ -26,13 +26,19 @@ type http struct {
 	chainID          string
 }
 
-// New creates a HTTP provider, which is using the rpchttp.HTTP
-// client under the hood.
+// New creates a HTTP provider, which is using the rpchttp.HTTP client under the
+// hood. If no scheme is provided in the remote URL, http will be used by default.
 func New(chainID, remote string) (provider.Provider, error) {
+	// ensure URL scheme is set (default HTTP) when not provided
+	if !strings.Contains(remote, "://") {
+		remote = "http://" + remote
+	}
+
 	httpClient, err := rpchttp.New(remote, "/websocket")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	return NewWithClient(chainID, httpClient), nil
 }
 
diff --git a/lite2/provider/http/http_test.go b/lite2/provider/http/http_test.go
index 73706434b..b07dbb9ff 100644
--- a/lite2/provider/http/http_test.go
+++ b/lite2/provider/http/http_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package http_test
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -8,12 +9,27 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/abci/example/kvstore"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/lite2/provider/http"
 	litehttp "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/lite2/provider/http"
 	rpcclient "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/rpc/client"
 	rpctest "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/rpc/test"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
 )
 
+func TestNewProvider(t *testing.T) {
+	c, err := http.New("chain-test", "192.168.0.1:26657")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("%s", c), "http{http://192.168.0.1:26657}")
+
+	c, err = http.New("chain-test", "http://153.200.0.1:26657")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("%s", c), "http{http://153.200.0.1:26657}")
+
+	c, err = http.New("chain-test", "153.200.0.1")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("%s", c), "http{http://153.200.0.1}")
+}
+
 func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	app := kvstore.NewApplication()
 	node := rpctest.StartTendermint(app)