diff --git a/README b/README
index 4cb111ed7e4..991eb739fa1 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@ To compile ejabberd you need:
  - GCC
  - Erlang/OTP R12B-4 or higher, R13B or higher.
  - exmpp 0.9.3 or higher
- - OpenSSL 0.9.6 or higher, for STARTTLS, SASL and SSL
-   encryption. Optional, highly recommended.
+ - OpenSSL 0.9.6 or higher, for STARTTLS, SASL and SSL encryption.
  - Zlib 1.2.3 or higher, for Stream Compression support
    (XEP-0138). Optional.
  - Erlang mysql library. Optional. MySQL authentication/storage.
diff --git a/doc/guide.html b/doc/guide.html
index c6d1c2462e9..836206b11a9 100644
--- a/doc/guide.html
+++ b/doc/guide.html
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ <H3 CLASS="subsection"><!--SEC ANCHOR --><A NAME="htoc9">2.4.1</A>&#XA0;&#XA0;<A
 </LI><LI CLASS="li-itemize">GCC
 </LI><LI CLASS="li-itemize">Erlang/OTP R12B-4 or higher, R13B or higher.
 </LI><LI CLASS="li-itemize">exmpp 0.9.3 or higher
-</LI><LI CLASS="li-itemize">OpenSSL 0.9.6 or higher, for STARTTLS, SASL and SSL encryption. Optional, highly recommended.
+</LI><LI CLASS="li-itemize">OpenSSL 0.9.6 or higher, for STARTTLS, SASL and SSL encryption.
 </LI><LI CLASS="li-itemize">Zlib 1.2.3 or higher, for Stream Compression support (<A HREF="http://xmpp.org/extensions/xep-0138.html">XEP-0138</A>). Optional.
 </LI><LI CLASS="li-itemize">Erlang mysql library. Optional. For MySQL authentication or storage. See section <A HREF="#compilemysql">3.2.1</A>.
 </LI><LI CLASS="li-itemize">Erlang pgsql library. Optional. For PostgreSQL authentication or storage. See section <A HREF="#compilepgsql">3.2.3</A>.
diff --git a/doc/guide.tex b/doc/guide.tex
index 3f0715ebcac..5a1c9b1f7d4 100644
--- a/doc/guide.tex
+++ b/doc/guide.tex
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@
 \item GCC
 \item Erlang/OTP R12B-4 or higher, R13B or higher.
 \item exmpp 0.9.3 or higher
-\item OpenSSL 0.9.6 or higher, for STARTTLS, SASL and SSL encryption. Optional, highly recommended.
+\item OpenSSL 0.9.6 or higher, for STARTTLS, SASL and SSL encryption.
 \item Zlib 1.2.3 or higher, for Stream Compression support (\xepref{0138}). Optional.
 \item Erlang mysql library. Optional. For MySQL authentication or storage. See section \ref{compilemysql}.
 \item Erlang pgsql library. Optional. For PostgreSQL authentication or storage. See section \ref{compilepgsql}.