diff --git a/copyparty/__version__.py b/copyparty/__version__.py
index ae049551..43b9b4c3 100644
--- a/copyparty/__version__.py
+++ b/copyparty/__version__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # coding: utf-8
 
-VERSION = (1, 7, 3)
+VERSION = (1, 7, 4)
 CODENAME = "unlinked"
 BUILD_DT = (2023, 6, 11)
 
diff --git a/copyparty/httpconn.py b/copyparty/httpconn.py
index a3b49cf9..10a5ce68 100644
--- a/copyparty/httpconn.py
+++ b/copyparty/httpconn.py
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ import socket
 import threading  # typechk
 import time
 
+try:
+    HAVE_SSL = True
+    import ssl
+except:
+    HAVE_SSL = False
+
 from . import util as Util
 from .__init__ import TYPE_CHECKING, EnvParams
 from .authsrv import AuthSrv  # typechk