diff --git a/prober/utils.go b/prober/utils.go
index 98c9152e..39aef270 100644
--- a/prober/utils.go
+++ b/prober/utils.go
@@ -26,8 +26,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 )
 
+var protocolToGauge = map[string]float64{
+	"ip4": 4,
+	"ip6": 6,
+}
+
 // Returns the IP for the IPProtocol and lookup time.
-func chooseProtocol(ctx context.Context, IPProtocol string, fallbackIPProtocol bool, target string, registry *prometheus.Registry, logger log.Logger) (ip *net.IPAddr, lookupTime float64, err error) {
+func chooseProtocol(ctx context.Context, IPProtocol string, fallbackIPProtocol bool, target string, registry *prometheus.Registry, logger log.Logger) (ip *net.IPAddr, lookupTime float64, returnerr error) {
 	var fallbackProtocol string
 	probeDNSLookupTimeSeconds := prometheus.NewGauge(prometheus.GaugeOpts{
 		Name: "probe_dns_lookup_time_seconds",
@@ -54,64 +59,48 @@ func chooseProtocol(ctx context.Context, IPProtocol string, fallbackIPProtocol b
 		IPProtocol = "ip4"
 		fallbackProtocol = "ip6"
 	}
+	var usedProtocol string
 
-	level.Info(logger).Log("msg", "Resolving target address", "ip_protocol", IPProtocol)
 	resolveStart := time.Now()
 
 	defer func() {
 		lookupTime = time.Since(resolveStart).Seconds()
 		probeDNSLookupTimeSeconds.Add(lookupTime)
+		if usedProtocol != "" {
+			probeIPProtocolGauge.Set(protocolToGauge[usedProtocol])
+		}
+		if ip != nil {
+			probeIPAddrHash.Set(ipHash(ip.IP))
+		}
 	}()
 
 	resolver := &net.Resolver{}
-	ips, err := resolver.LookupIPAddr(ctx, target)
-	if err != nil {
-		level.Error(logger).Log("msg", "Resolution with IP protocol failed", "err", err)
-		return nil, 0.0, err
-	}
-
-	// Return the IP in the requested protocol.
-	var fallback *net.IPAddr
-	for _, ip := range ips {
-		switch IPProtocol {
-		case "ip4":
-			if ip.IP.To4() != nil {
-				level.Info(logger).Log("msg", "Resolved target address", "ip", ip.String())
-				probeIPProtocolGauge.Set(4)
-				probeIPAddrHash.Set(ipHash(ip.IP))
-				return &ip, lookupTime, nil
-			}
-
-			// ip4 as fallback
-			fallback = &ip
 
-		case "ip6":
-			if ip.IP.To4() == nil {
-				level.Info(logger).Log("msg", "Resolved target address", "ip", ip.String())
-				probeIPProtocolGauge.Set(6)
-				probeIPAddrHash.Set(ipHash(ip.IP))
-				return &ip, lookupTime, nil
-			}
-
-			// ip6 as fallback
-			fallback = &ip
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Unable to find ip and no fallback set.
-	if fallback == nil || !fallbackIPProtocol {
-		return nil, 0.0, fmt.Errorf("unable to find ip; no fallback")
+	level.Info(logger).Log("msg", "Resolving target address", "ip_protocol", IPProtocol)
+	if ips, err := resolver.LookupIP(ctx, IPProtocol, target); err == nil {
+		level.Info(logger).Log("msg", "Resolved target address", "ip", ips[0].String())
+		usedProtocol = IPProtocol
+		ip = &net.IPAddr{IP: ips[0]}
+		return
+	} else if !fallbackIPProtocol {
+		level.Error(logger).Log("msg", "Resolution with IP protocol failed", "err", err)
+		returnerr = fmt.Errorf("unable to find ip; no fallback: %s", err)
+		return
 	}
 
-	// Use fallback ip protocol.
-	if fallbackProtocol == "ip4" {
-		probeIPProtocolGauge.Set(4)
-	} else {
-		probeIPProtocolGauge.Set(6)
+	level.Info(logger).Log("msg", "Resolving target address", "ip_protocol", fallbackProtocol)
+	ips, err := resolver.LookupIP(ctx, fallbackProtocol, target)
+	if err != nil {
+		// This could happen when the domain don't have A and AAAA record (e.g.
+		// only have MX record).
+		level.Error(logger).Log("msg", "Resolution with IP protocol failed", "err", err)
+		returnerr = fmt.Errorf("unable to find ip; exhausted fallback: %s", err)
+		return
 	}
-	probeIPAddrHash.Set(ipHash(fallback.IP))
-	level.Info(logger).Log("msg", "Resolved target address", "ip", fallback.String())
-	return fallback, lookupTime, nil
+	level.Info(logger).Log("msg", "Resolved target address", "ip", ips[0].String())
+	usedProtocol = fallbackProtocol
+	ip = &net.IPAddr{IP: ips[0]}
+	return
 }
 
 func ipHash(ip net.IP) float64 {
diff --git a/prober/utils_test.go b/prober/utils_test.go
index a53ee490..bf21dc79 100644
--- a/prober/utils_test.go
+++ b/prober/utils_test.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"math/big"
 	"net"
 	"os"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -162,7 +163,7 @@ func TestChooseProtocol(t *testing.T) {
 	registry = prometheus.NewPedanticRegistry()
 
 	ip, _, err = chooseProtocol(ctx, "ip4", false, "ipv6.google.com", registry, logger)
-	if err != nil && err.Error() != "unable to find ip; no fallback" {
+	if err != nil && !strings.HasPrefix(err.Error(), "unable to find ip; no fallback") {
 		t.Error(err)
 	} else if err == nil {
 		t.Error("should set error")
@@ -170,6 +171,17 @@ func TestChooseProtocol(t *testing.T) {
 	if ip != nil {
 		t.Error("without fallback it should not answer")
 	}
+
+	registry = prometheus.NewPedanticRegistry()
+	ip, _, err = chooseProtocol(ctx, "ip4", true, "does-not-exist.example.com", registry, logger)
+	if err != nil && !strings.HasPrefix(err.Error(), "unable to find ip; exhausted fallback") {
+		t.Error(err)
+	} else if err == nil {
+		t.Error("should set error")
+	}
+	if ip != nil {
+		t.Error("with exhausted fallback it should not answer")
+	}
 }
 
 func checkMetrics(expected map[string]map[string]map[string]struct{}, mfs []*dto.MetricFamily, t *testing.T) {