diff --git a/includes/common.inc b/includes/common.inc
index da8996a1b9..b528165be3 100644
--- a/includes/common.inc
+++ b/includes/common.inc
@@ -885,6 +885,18 @@ function drupal_http_request($url, array $options = array()) {
       $port = isset($uri['port']) ? $uri['port'] : 443;
       $socket = 'ssl://' . $uri['host'] . ':' . $port;
       $options['headers']['Host'] = $uri['host'] . ($port != 443 ? ':' . $port : '');
+      // By default, verify SSL certificates in OpenSSL connections. This is
+      // enabled by default in PHP 5.6, older versions do not enable it
+      // automatically. Allow other SSL context options to be configured.
+      if (!isset($options['context'])) {
+        $opts = variable_get('drupal_ssl_context_options');
+        if (in_array($uri['host'], array_keys($opts))) {
+          $options['context'] = stream_context_create($opts[$uri['host']]);
+        }
+        elseif (array_key_exists('default', $opts)) {
+          $options['context'] = stream_context_create($opts['default']);
+        }
+      }
       break;
 
     default: