diff --git a/src/core/network-openssl.c b/src/core/network-openssl.c
index e55f2ace..465c4154 100644
--- a/src/core/network-openssl.c
+++ b/src/core/network-openssl.c
@@ -479,7 +479,10 @@ static GIOChannel *irssi_ssl_get_iochannel(GIOChannel *handle, int port, SERVER_
 	SSL_CTX_set_options(ctx, SSL_OP_NO_SSLv2 | SSL_OP_NO_SSLv3);
 	SSL_CTX_set_default_passwd_cb(ctx, get_pem_password_callback);
 	SSL_CTX_set_default_passwd_cb_userdata(ctx, (void *)mypass);
-	SSL_CTX_set_cipher_list(ctx, ciphers);
+	if (ciphers && *ciphers) {
+		if (SSL_CTX_set_cipher_list(ctx, ciphers) != 1)
+			g_warning("No valid SSL cipher suite could be selected");
+	}
 
 	if (mycert && *mycert) {
 		char *scert = NULL, *spkey = NULL;