diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9ca40ee..b253904 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ uname_S := $(shell sh -c 'uname -s 2>/dev/null || echo not')
 
 USE_SSL?=0
 
-ifdef USE_SSL
+ifeq ($(USE_SSL),1)
 	# This is the prefix of openssl on my system. This should be the sane default
 	# based on the platform
 	ifeq ($(uname_S),Linux)