diff --git a/lib/hiera/backend/http_backend.rb b/lib/hiera/backend/http_backend.rb
index 0e61ec6..54509ef 100644
--- a/lib/hiera/backend/http_backend.rb
+++ b/lib/hiera/backend/http_backend.rb
@@ -20,11 +20,11 @@ def initialize
             @http.verify_mode = OpenSSL::SSL::VERIFY_PEER
           end
 
-          if @config[:ssl_cert]
-            store = OpenSSL::X509::Store.new
-            store.add_cert(OpenSSL::X509::Certificate.new(File.read(@config[:ssl_ca_cert])))
-            @http.cert_store = store
+          if @config[:ssl_ca_cert]
+            @http.ca_file = @config[:ssl_ca_cert]
+          end
 
+          if @config[:ssl_cert]
             @http.key = OpenSSL::PKey::RSA.new(File.read(@config[:ssl_cert]))
             @http.cert = OpenSSL::X509::Certificate.new(File.read(@config[:ssl_key]))
           end