diff --git a/git-send-email.perl b/git-send-email.perl
index 2016d9c6198957..fdb0029b597898 100755
--- a/git-send-email.perl
+++ b/git-send-email.perl
@@ -1095,7 +1095,8 @@ sub ssl_verify_params {
 	}
 
 	if (!defined $smtp_ssl_cert_path) {
-		$smtp_ssl_cert_path = "/etc/ssl/certs";
+		# use the OpenSSL defaults
+		return (SSL_verify_mode => SSL_VERIFY_PEER());
 	}
 
 	if ($smtp_ssl_cert_path eq "") {