diff --git a/bot.py b/bot.py
index 1374fc7..711ca6b 100644
--- a/bot.py
+++ b/bot.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 import irc.client
 import irc.connection
 
-import ssl
 import pymongo
 import datetime
 
@@ -14,7 +13,11 @@
 
 class SBot(irc.bot.SingleServerIRCBot):
     def __init__(self):
-        factory = irc.connection.Factory(wrapper=ssl.wrap_socket)
+        if config.USE_SSL:
+            import ssl
+            factory = irc.connection.Factory(wrapper=ssl.wrap_socket)
+        else:
+            factory = irc.connection.Factory()
         irc.bot.SingleServerIRCBot.__init__(self,
             [(config.SERVER, config.PORT), ],
             config.BOT_NAME,
diff --git a/config.py.example b/config.py.example
index dbd56b8..37f991e 100644
--- a/config.py.example
+++ b/config.py.example
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ NOTIFY_NAME = '!'
 
 # IRC
 SERVER = 'irc.uriirc.org'
+USE_SSL = True
 PORT = 16662
 BOT_NAME = 's'
 OPERATOR_NAME = 'sgm'