diff --git a/googleapiclient/http.py b/googleapiclient/http.py
index ed074cb..f9d6a55 100644
--- a/googleapiclient/http.py
+++ b/googleapiclient/http.py
@@ -38,11 +38,18 @@
 import os
 import random
 import socket
-import ssl
 import sys
 import time
 import uuid
 
+# TODO(issue 221): Remove this conditional import jibbajabba.
+try:
+  import ssl
+except ImportError:
+  _ssl_SSLError = object()
+else:
+  _ssl_SSLError = ssl.SSLError
+
 from email.generator import Generator
 from email.mime.multipart import MIMEMultipart
 from email.mime.nonmultipart import MIMENonMultipart
@@ -146,7 +153,7 @@
       exception = None
       resp, content = http.request(uri, method, *args, **kwargs)
     # Retry on SSL errors and socket timeout errors.
-    except ssl.SSLError as ssl_error:
+    except _ssl_SSLError as ssl_error:
       exception = ssl_error
     except socket.error as socket_error:
       # errno's contents differ by platform, so we have to match by name.