diff --git a/lib/manageiq/providers/openstack/legacy/openstack_handle/handle.rb b/lib/manageiq/providers/openstack/legacy/openstack_handle/handle.rb
index 3838731c3..59ab4de21 100644
--- a/lib/manageiq/providers/openstack/legacy/openstack_handle/handle.rb
+++ b/lib/manageiq/providers/openstack/legacy/openstack_handle/handle.rb
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def self.try_connection(security_protocol, ssl_options = {})
 
     def self.raw_connect_try_ssl(username, password, address, port, service = "Compute", opts = nil, api_version = nil,
                                  security_protocol = nil)
-      ssl_options = opts.delete(:ssl_options)
+      ssl_options = opts.delete(:ssl_options) || {}
       try_connection(security_protocol, ssl_options) do |scheme, connection_options|
         auth_url = auth_url(address, port, scheme, api_version)
         opts[:connection_options] = (opts[:connection_options] || {}).merge(connection_options)