diff --git a/plugins/sslutils.c b/plugins/sslutils.c
index 286273f6..d542c499 100644
--- a/plugins/sslutils.c
+++ b/plugins/sslutils.c
@@ -134,7 +134,18 @@ int np_net_ssl_init_with_hostname_version_and_cert(int sd, char *host_name, int
 		return STATE_CRITICAL;
 	}
 	if (cert && privkey) {
-		SSL_CTX_use_certificate_chain_file(c, cert);
+#ifdef USE_OPENSSL
+		if (!SSL_CTX_use_certificate_chain_file(c, cert)) {
+#else
+#if USE_GNUTLS
+		if (!SSL_CTX_use_certificate_file(c, cert, SSL_FILETYPE_PEM)) {
+#else
+#error Unported for unknown SSL library
+#endif
+#endif
+			printf ("%s\n", _("CRITICAL - Unable to open certificate chain file!\n"));
+			return STATE_CRITICAL;
+		}
 		SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_file(c, privkey, SSL_FILETYPE_PEM);
 #ifdef USE_OPENSSL
 		if (!SSL_CTX_check_private_key(c)) {