diff --git a/esp8266/Makefile b/esp8266/Makefile
index 2d3f3ac5c7e8c20fd3d649a4f67424acc490ec93..83300d49078abc276332aca0f4d534a6b75e4ba5 100644
--- a/esp8266/Makefile
+++ b/esp8266/Makefile
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ include ../py/mkenv.mk
 # qstr definitions (must come before including py.mk)
 QSTR_DEFS = qstrdefsport.h #$(BUILD)/pins_qstr.h
 
+MICROPY_PY_USSL = 1
+
 # include py core make definitions
 include ../py/py.mk