diff --git a/Lib/imaplib.py b/Lib/imaplib.py
index 6469df2dcf0..df35cb14b02 100644
--- a/Lib/imaplib.py
+++ b/Lib/imaplib.py
@@ -222,9 +222,7 @@ class IMAP4:
 
 
     def _create_socket(self):
-        sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
-        sock.connect((self.host, self.port))
-        return sock
+        return socket.create_connection((self.host, self.port))
 
     def open(self, host = '', port = IMAP4_PORT):
         """Setup connection to remote server on "host:port"
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 9173a72e0d5..d3f4177c656 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ Core and Builtins
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #1655: Make imaplib IPv6-capable. Patch by Derek Morr.
+
 - Issue #5918: Fix a crash in the parser module.
 
 - Issue #1664: Make nntplib IPv6-capable. Patch by Derek Morr.