diff --git a/doc/man-sections/link-options.rst b/doc/man-sections/link-options.rst
index d48021e..287473e 100644
--- a/doc/man-sections/link-options.rst
+++ b/doc/man-sections/link-options.rst
@@ -122,7 +122,9 @@
 
 --lport port
   Set default TCP/UDP port number. Cannot be used together with
-  ``--nobind`` option.
+  ``--nobind`` option.  A port number of ``0`` is only honoured to
+  achieve "bind() to a random assigned port number" if a bind-to IP
+  address is specified with ``--local``.
 
 --mark value
   Mark encrypted packets being sent with ``value``. The mark value can be
diff --git a/src/openvpn/options.c b/src/openvpn/options.c
index ab56609..99dd60a 100644
--- a/src/openvpn/options.c
+++ b/src/openvpn/options.c
@@ -6710,7 +6710,12 @@
     else if (streq(p[0], "lport") && p[1] && !p[2])
     {
         VERIFY_PERMISSION(OPT_P_GENERAL|OPT_P_CONNECTION);
-        options->ce.local_port_defined = true;
+
+        /* only trigger bind() if port is not 0 (or --local is used) */
+        if (!streq(p[1], "0"))
+        {
+            options->ce.local_port_defined = true;
+        }
         options->ce.local_port = p[1];
     }
     else if (streq(p[0], "rport") && p[1] && !p[2])