diff --git a/packages/apps/src/http/adapter.ts b/packages/apps/src/http/adapter.ts
index 1730c8f23..82efaa866 100644
--- a/packages/apps/src/http/adapter.ts
+++ b/packages/apps/src/http/adapter.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ export interface IHttpServerAdapter {
    * Not needed if app.start() is not called
    * @param port Port number to listen on
    */
-  start?(port: number): Promise<void>;
+  start?(port: number | string): Promise<void>;
 
   /**
    * Stop the server from listening and perform any cleanup that needs to be done
diff --git a/packages/apps/src/http/express-adapter.ts b/packages/apps/src/http/express-adapter.ts
index a68dfe2f3..39785e217 100644
--- a/packages/apps/src/http/express-adapter.ts
+++ b/packages/apps/src/http/express-adapter.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export class ExpressAdapter implements IHttpServerAdapter {
   /**
    * Start the server listening on the specified port
    */
-  async start(port: number): Promise<void> {
+  async start(port: number | string): Promise<void> {
     return new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
       // Handle startup errors
       this.server.once('error', (err) => {
diff --git a/packages/apps/src/http/http-server.spec.ts b/packages/apps/src/http/http-server.spec.ts
index dafdfd2aa..e1b6203ca 100644
--- a/packages/apps/src/http/http-server.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/apps/src/http/http-server.spec.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class MockAdapter implements IHttpServerAdapter {
     this.routes.push({ method, path, handler });
   }
 
-  async start(_port: number): Promise<void> {
+  async start(_port: number | string): Promise<void> {
     this.started = true;
   }
 
@@ -151,12 +151,20 @@ describe('HttpServer', () => {
       expect(adapter.started).toBe(true);
     });
 
-    it('should parse string port to number', async () => {
+    it('should pass string port through to adapter', async () => {
       const startSpy = jest.spyOn(adapter, 'start');
 
       await server.start('4000');
 
-      expect(startSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(4000);
+      expect(startSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('4000');
+    });
+
+    it('should pass named pipe path through to adapter', async () => {
+      const startSpy = jest.spyOn(adapter, 'start');
+
+      await server.start('\\\\.\\pipe\\507cb72a-6765-4f1e-a9f0-1234abcd5678');
+
+      expect(startSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('\\\\.\\pipe\\507cb72a-6765-4f1e-a9f0-1234abcd5678');
     });
 
     it('should throw when adapter does not implement start', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/apps/src/http/http-server.ts b/packages/apps/src/http/http-server.ts
index 4b1cbc441..f0810f1f8 100644
--- a/packages/apps/src/http/http-server.ts
+++ b/packages/apps/src/http/http-server.ts
@@ -112,14 +112,13 @@ export class HttpServer implements IHttpServer {
    * Called by App.start()
    */
   async start(port: number | string) {
-    const portNumber = typeof port === 'string' ? parseInt(port, 10) : port;
     if (!this._adapter.start) {
       throw new Error(
         'Adapter does not implement start(). ' +
         'Either implement start() in your adapter, or manage server lifecycle manually.'
       );
     }
-    await this._adapter.start(portNumber);
+    await this._adapter.start(port);
   }
 
   /**