diff --git a/lib/websocket-client-simple/client.rb b/lib/websocket-client-simple/client.rb
index 128f523..cd2811a 100644
--- a/lib/websocket-client-simple/client.rb
+++ b/lib/websocket-client-simple/client.rb
@@ -23,8 +23,11 @@ def connect(url, options={})
             ctx = OpenSSL::SSL::SSLContext.new
             ctx.ssl_version = options[:ssl_version] || 'SSLv23'
             ctx.verify_mode = options[:verify_mode] || OpenSSL::SSL::VERIFY_NONE #use VERIFY_PEER for verification
-            cert_store = OpenSSL::X509::Store.new
-            cert_store.set_default_paths
+            cert_store = options[:cert_store]
+            unless cert_store
+              cert_store = OpenSSL::X509::Store.new
+              cert_store.set_default_paths
+            end
             ctx.cert_store = cert_store
             @socket = ::OpenSSL::SSL::SSLSocket.new(@socket, ctx)
             @socket.connect