diff --git a/lib/private_pub.rb b/lib/private_pub.rb
index a595cf8..8287b54 100644
--- a/lib/private_pub.rb
+++ b/lib/private_pub.rb
@@ -38,8 +38,11 @@ def publish_message(message)
       form.set_form_data(:message => message.to_json)
 
       http = Net::HTTP.new(url.host, url.port)
-      http.use_ssl = url.scheme == "https"
-      http.start {|h| h.request(form)}
+        if url.scheme == "https"
+            http.use_ssl = true
+            http.verify_mode = OpenSSL::SSL::VERIFY_NONE if config[:ssl_verify_mode] == true
+        end
+        http.start {|h| h.request(form)}
     end
 
     # Returns a message hash for sending to Faye