diff --git a/include/cassandra.h b/include/cassandra.h
index 753e3eda0..d8982dae4 100644
--- a/include/cassandra.h
+++ b/include/cassandra.h
@@ -3247,6 +3247,37 @@ cass_aggregate_meta_field_by_name_n(const CassAggregateMeta* aggregate_meta,
 CASS_EXPORT CassSsl*
 cass_ssl_new();
 
+/**
+ * Creates a new SSL context <b>without</b> initializing the underlying library
+ * implementation. The integrating application is responsible for
+ * initializing the underlying SSL implementation. The driver uses the SSL
+ * implmentation from several threads concurrently so it's important that it's
+ * properly setup for multithreaded use e.g. lock callbacks for OpenSSL.
+ *
+ * <b>Important:</b> The SSL library must be initialized before calling this
+ * function.
+ *
+ * When using OpenSSL the following components need to be initialized:
+ *
+ * SSL_library_init();
+ * SSL_load_error_strings();
+ * OpenSSL_add_all_algorithms();
+ *
+ * The following thread-safety callbacks also need to be set:
+ *
+ * CRYPTO_set_locking_callback(...);
+ * CRYPTO_set_id_callback(...);
+ *
+ * @public @memberof CassSsl
+ *
+ * @return Returns a SSL context that must be freed.
+ *
+ * @see cass_ssl_new()
+ * @see cass_ssl_free()
+ */
+CASS_EXPORT CassSsl*
+cass_ssl_new_no_lib_init();
+
 /**
  * Frees a SSL context instance.
  *
diff --git a/src/ssl.cpp b/src/ssl.cpp
index 2d5b91347..d414b08ef 100644
--- a/src/ssl.cpp
+++ b/src/ssl.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@
 extern "C" {
 
 CassSsl* cass_ssl_new() {
+  cass::SslContextFactory::init();
+  return cass_ssl_new_no_lib_init();
+}
+
+CassSsl* cass_ssl_new_no_lib_init() {
   cass::SslContext* ssl_context = cass::SslContextFactory::create();
   ssl_context->inc_ref();
   return CassSsl::to(ssl_context);
@@ -82,7 +87,6 @@ static uv_once_t ssl_init_guard = UV_ONCE_INIT;
 
 template<class T>
 SslContext* SslContextFactoryBase<T>::create() {
-  init();
   return T::create();
 }