diff --git a/mod/chat/chatd.php b/mod/chat/chatd.php
index 471c09af4a9..bb41bf9e8af 100755
--- a/mod/chat/chatd.php
+++ b/mod/chat/chatd.php
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']        = 'dummy';
 $_SERVER['SERVER_NAME']     = 'dummy';
 $_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT'] = 'dummy';
 
+$nomoodlecookie = true;
+
 include('../../config.php');
 include('lib.php');
 
@@ -42,6 +44,10 @@ if(!empty($safemode)) {
     die("Error: Cannot run with PHP safe_mode = On. Turn off safe_mode in php.ini.\n");
 }
 
+if(ini_get('allow_call_time_pass_reference') == '0') {
+    die("Error: Cannot run with PHP allow_call_time_pass_reference = Off. Turn on allow_call_time_pass_reference in php.ini.\n");
+}
+
 @set_time_limit (0);
 set_magic_quotes_runtime(0);
 error_reporting(E_ALL);
@@ -65,7 +71,7 @@ class ChatConnection {
 
     function ChatConnection($resource) {
         $this->handle = $resource;
-        socket_getpeername($this->handle, &$this->ip, &$this->port);
+        @socket_getpeername($this->handle, &$this->ip, &$this->port);
     }
 }