diff --git a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/dialogs/maindialog.py b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/dialogs/maindialog.py
index aaf11fddb6b5..1b9c951d41c7 100644
--- a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/dialogs/maindialog.py
+++ b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/dialogs/maindialog.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def __init__(self, iface):
         self.startfrom = 0
         self.maxrecords = 10
         self.timeout = 10
-        self.disable_ssl = False
+        self.disable_ssl_verification = False
         self.constraints = []
 
         # Servers tab
@@ -450,9 +450,6 @@ def search(self):
         # set timeout
         self.timeout = self.spnTimeout.value()
 
-        # ssl mode
-        self.disable_ssl = self.disableSSL.isChecked()
-
         # bbox
         # CRS is WGS84 with axis order longitude, latitude
         # defined by 'urn:ogc:def:crs:OGC:1.3:CRS84'
@@ -824,10 +821,12 @@ def show_metadata(self):
 
         identifier = get_item_data(item, 'identifier')
 
+        self.disable_ssl_verification = self.disableSSLVerification.isChecked()
+
         try:
             with OverrideCursor(Qt.WaitCursor):
                 auth = None
-                if self.disable_ssl:
+                if self.disable_ssl_verification:
                     auth = Authentication(verify=False)
                 cat = CatalogueServiceWeb(self.catalog_url, timeout=self.timeout,  # spellok
                                           username=self.catalog_username,
@@ -907,10 +906,12 @@ def reject(self):
     def _get_csw(self):
         """convenience function to init owslib.csw.CatalogueServiceWeb"""  # spellok
 
+        self.disable_ssl_verification = self.disableSSLVerification.isChecked()
+
         # connect to the server
         with OverrideCursor(Qt.WaitCursor):
             auth = None
-            if self.disable_ssl:
+            if self.disable_ssl_verification:
                 auth = Authentication(verify=False)
             try:
                 self.catalog = CatalogueServiceWeb(self.catalog_url,  # spellok
diff --git a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/ui/maindialog.ui b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/ui/maindialog.ui
index 9822166e9a5c..26191f02ae18 100644
--- a/python/plugins/MetaSearch/ui/maindialog.ui
+++ b/python/plugins/MetaSearch/ui/maindialog.ui
@@ -501,12 +501,12 @@
           <item row="1" column="0">
            <widget class="QLabel" name="label_11">
             <property name="text">
-             <string>Disable SSL</string>
+             <string>Disable SSL verification</string>
             </property>
            </widget>
           </item>
           <item row="1" column="2">
-           <widget class="QCheckBox" name="disableSSL">
+           <widget class="QCheckBox" name="disableSSLVerification">
             <property name="text">
              <string/>
             </property>