diff --git a/java/src/processing/mode/java/runner/Runner.java b/java/src/processing/mode/java/runner/Runner.java
index 871020e72..9d1dad83d 100644
--- a/java/src/processing/mode/java/runner/Runner.java
+++ b/java/src/processing/mode/java/runner/Runner.java
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ import java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment;
 import java.awt.Point;
 import java.io.*;
 import java.net.ConnectException;
+import java.net.InetAddress;
+import java.net.UnknownHostException;
 import java.util.*;
 
 import com.sun.jdi.*;
@@ -82,6 +84,8 @@ public class Runner implements MessageConsumer {
 //    this.sketch = sketch;
     this.build = build;
 
+    checkLocalHost();
+
     if (listener instanceof Editor) {
       this.editor = (Editor) listener;
       sketchErr = editor.getConsole().getErr();
@@ -116,6 +120,29 @@ public class Runner implements MessageConsumer {
   }
 
 
+  /**
+   * Has the user screwed up their hosts file?
+   * https://github.com/processing/processing/issues/4738
+   */
+  private void checkLocalHost() throws SketchException {
+    try {
+      InetAddress address = InetAddress.getByName("localhost");
+      if (!address.getHostAddress().equals("127.0.0.1")) {
+        System.err.println("Your computer is not properly mapping 'localhost' to '127.0.0.1',");
+        System.err.println("which prevents sketches from working properly because 'localhost'");
+        System.err.println("is needed to connect the PDE to your sketch while it's running.");
+        System.err.println("If you don't recall making this change, or know how to fix it:");
+        System.err.println("https://www.google.com/search?q=add+localhost+to+hosts+file+" + Platform.getName());
+        throw new SketchException("Cannot run due to changes in your 'hosts' file. " +
+                                  "See the console for details.", false);
+      }
+
+    } catch (UnknownHostException e) {
+      e.printStackTrace();
+    }
+  }
+
+
   public VirtualMachine launch(String[] args) {
     if (launchVirtualMachine(false, args)) {
       generateTrace();
diff --git a/todo.txt b/todo.txt
index 7a770241c..931fde440 100755
--- a/todo.txt
+++ b/todo.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 0256 (3.2.4 or 3.3)
 X only require reference.zip (and internet connection) when building dist
 X set text style properly for Contribution Manager error message
+X Detect changes to 'hosts' file in case users modify/remove localhost 
+_   No sketch window opens after hitting Run if hosts file changed
+_   https://github.com/processing/processing/issues/4738
+_   https://github.com/processing/processing/issues/4735
+X   https://github.com/processing/processing/issues/1868
+X   https://github.com/processing/processing/issues/3123
 
 
 _ Export Application fails on machines w/ non-ASCII chars in user name
@@ -20,10 +26,6 @@ _   https://github.com/processing/processing/commits/master/build/macosx/appbund
 _   https://github.com/processing/processing/commit/fa27b983e76fdbc5c4c1451a1f0d854c652b1639
 _   https://bitbucket.org/infinitekind/appbundler
 
-_ Drew's freeze on startup
-_   No PDE window opens when started on MacOS X 10.11
-_   https://github.com/processing/processing/issues/4735
-
 _ settings() present and pixelDensity() is in setup(), nothing set/no error
 _   https://github.com/processing/processing/issues/4703