diff --git a/mrq/context.py b/mrq/context.py
index ec3368aa..8f19e238 100644
--- a/mrq/context.py
+++ b/mrq/context.py
@@ -139,9 +139,13 @@ def versiontuple(v):
         if isinstance(config_obj, basestring):
 
             import redis as pyredis
+            import redis.connection as pyredisconnection
 
+            connection_class = pyredisconnection.Connection                
             urllib.parse.uses_netloc.append('redis')
             redis_url = urllib.parse.urlparse(config_obj)
+            if redis_url.scheme == "rediss":
+                connection_class = pyredisconnection.SSLConnection
 
             log.info("%s: Connecting to Redis at %s..." %
                      (attr, redis_url.hostname))
@@ -153,7 +157,8 @@ def versiontuple(v):
                 password=redis_url.password if redis_url.password is not None else redis_url.username,
                 max_connections=int(config.get("redis_max_connections")),
                 timeout=int(config.get("redis_timeout")),
-                decode_responses=False
+                decode_responses=False,
+                connection_class=connection_class
             )
             return pyredis.StrictRedis(connection_pool=redis_pool)