Do not try to do SSL handshake if the connect() fails This will avoid this icky error: $ https-client -4 -url https://127.1 some request failed - no idea which one though! error:00000005:lib(0):func(0):DH lib And instead will report only: $ https-client -4 -url https://127.1 some request failed - no idea which one though! socket error = Connection refused (111) Refs: #1115