diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index 93db8dd..a5c6659 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ func hostPortNoPort(u *url.URL) (hostPort, hostNoPort string) {
 }
 
 // DefaultDialer is a dialer with all fields set to the default zero values.
-var DefaultDialer *Dialer
+var DefaultDialer = &Dialer{}
 
 // Dial creates a new client connection. Use requestHeader to specify the
 // origin (Origin), subprotocols (Sec-WebSocket-Protocol) and cookies (Cookie).
diff --git a/examples/echo/client.go b/examples/echo/client.go
index 5aec6ec..af6fa99 100644
--- a/examples/echo/client.go
+++ b/examples/echo/client.go
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ import (
 
 var addr = flag.String("addr", "localhost:8081", "http service address")
 
-var dialer = websocket.Dialer{} // use default options
-
 func main() {
 	flag.Parse()
 	log.SetFlags(0)
@@ -26,7 +24,7 @@ func main() {
 	u := url.URL{Scheme: "ws", Host: *addr, Path: "/"}
 	log.Printf("connecting to %s", u.String())
 
-	c, _, err := dialer.Dial(u.String(), nil)
+	c, _, err := websocket.DefaultDialer.Dial(u.String(), nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal("dial:", err)
 	}