diff --git a/manifests/slave.pp b/manifests/slave.pp
index 06d011a59..35a2be189 100644
--- a/manifests/slave.pp
+++ b/manifests/slave.pp
@@ -36,10 +36,13 @@
 # [*slave_mode*]
 #   Defaults to 'normal'. Can be either 'normal' (utilize this slave as much as possible) or 'exclusive' (leave this machine for tied jobs only).
 #
+# [*disable_ssl_verification*]
+#   Disable SSL certificate verification on Swarm clients. Not required, but is necessary if you're using a self-signed SSL cert. Defaults to false.
+#
 # [*labels*]
 #   Not required.  Single string of whitespace-separated list of labels to be assigned for this slave.
 #
-# [*jave_version*]
+# [*java_version*]
 #   Specified which version of java will be used.
 #
 
@@ -59,19 +62,20 @@
 #
 # Copyright 2013 Matthew Barr , but can be used for anything by anyone..
 class jenkins::slave (
-  $masterurl         = undef,
-  $ui_user           = undef,
-  $ui_pass           = undef,
-  $version           = $jenkins::params::swarm_version,
-  $executors         = 2,
-  $manage_slave_user = true,
-  $slave_user        = 'jenkins-slave',
-  $slave_uid         = undef,
-  $slave_home        = '/home/jenkins-slave',
-  $slave_mode        = 'normal',
-  $labels            = undef,
-  $install_java      = $jenkins::params::install_java,
-  $enable            = true
+  $masterurl                = undef,
+  $ui_user                  = undef,
+  $ui_pass                  = undef,
+  $version                  = $jenkins::params::swarm_version,
+  $executors                = 2,
+  $manage_slave_user        = true,
+  $slave_user               = 'jenkins-slave',
+  $slave_uid                = undef,
+  $slave_home               = '/home/jenkins-slave',
+  $slave_mode               = 'normal',
+  $disable_ssl_verification = false,
+  $labels                   = undef,
+  $install_java             = $jenkins::params::install_java,
+  $enable                   = true
 ) inherits jenkins::params {
 
   $client_jar = "swarm-client-${version}-jar-with-dependencies.jar"
@@ -83,8 +87,15 @@
     }
   }
 
-  #add jenkins slave user if necessary.
+  #If disable_ssl_verification is set to true
+  if $disable_ssl_verification {
+     # disable SSL verification to the init script
+      $disable_ssl_verification_flag = '-disableSslVerification'
+  } else {
+      $disable_ssl_verification_flag = ''
+  }
 
+  #add jenkins slave user if necessary.
   if $manage_slave_user and $slave_uid {
     user { 'jenkins-slave_user':
       ensure     => present,
@@ -160,7 +171,7 @@
         require => Package['daemon'],
       }
 
-      package { 'daemon':
+      package {'daemon':
         ensure => present,
       }
     }
diff --git a/spec/classes/jenkins_slave_spec.rb b/spec/classes/jenkins_slave_spec.rb
index d9be44c3b..c9c8e8b76 100644
--- a/spec/classes/jenkins_slave_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/classes/jenkins_slave_spec.rb
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@
       it { should contain_user('jenkins-slave_user').with_uid(nil) }
     end
 
+    describe 'with ssl verification disabled' do
+      let(:params) { { :disable_ssl_verification => true } }
+      it { should contain_file('/etc/init.d/jenkins-slave').with_content(/-disableSslVerification/) }
+    end
+
     describe 'slave_uid' do
       let(:params) { { :slave_uid => '123' } }
       it { should contain_user('jenkins-slave_user').with_uid(123) }
@@ -19,8 +24,17 @@
   end
 
   describe 'Debian' do
-    let(:facts) { { :ostype => 'Debian' } }
-    it { expect { should raise_error(Puppet::Error) } }
+    let(:facts) { { :osfamily => 'Debian', :lsbdistid => 'debian', :lsbdistcodename => 'natty', :operatingsystem => 'Debian' } }
+    describe 'default' do
+      it { should contain_exec('get_swarm_client') }
+      it { should contain_file('/etc/init.d/jenkins-slave') }
+      it { should contain_service('jenkins-slave') }
+      it { should contain_user('jenkins-slave_user').with_uid(nil) }
+    end
+    describe 'with ssl verification disabled' do
+      let(:params) { { :disable_ssl_verification => true } }
+      it { should contain_file('/etc/default/jenkins-slave').with_content(/-disableSslVerification/) }
+    end
   end
 
   describe 'Unknown' do
diff --git a/templates/jenkins-slave-defaults.Debian b/templates/jenkins-slave-defaults.Debian
index f00cfa07b..6710730e2 100644
--- a/templates/jenkins-slave-defaults.Debian
+++ b/templates/jenkins-slave-defaults.Debian
@@ -43,4 +43,4 @@ EXECUTORS=<%= @executors -%>
 CLIENT_NAME=<%= @fqdn -%>
 
 
-JENKINS_SLAVE_ARGS="<%= @ui_user_flag -%> <%= @ui_pass_flag -%> -name $CLIENT_NAME -executors $EXECUTORS $MASTER_URL"
+JENKINS_SLAVE_ARGS="<%= @ui_user_flag -%> <%= @ui_pass_flag -%> -name $CLIENT_NAME <%= @disable_ssl_verification_flag -%> -executors $EXECUTORS $MASTER_URL"
diff --git a/templates/jenkins-slave.erb b/templates/jenkins-slave.erb
index dcfe17e4f..40037a446 100644
--- a/templates/jenkins-slave.erb
+++ b/templates/jenkins-slave.erb
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ fi
 
 slave_start() {
   echo Starting Jenkins Slave...
-  $RUNUSER - <%= @slave_user -%> -c 'java -jar <%= @slave_home -%>/<%= @client_jar -%> <%= @ui_user_flag -%> <%= @ui_pass_flag -%> -mode <%= @slave_mode -%> -name <%= @fqdn || @hostname -%> -executors <%= @executors -%> <%= @masterurl_flag -%> <%= @labels_flag -%> &'
+  $RUNUSER - <%= @slave_user -%> -c 'java -jar <%= @slave_home -%>/<%= @client_jar -%> <%= @ui_user_flag -%> <%= @ui_pass_flag -%> -mode <%= @slave_mode -%> -name <%= @fqdn || @hostname -%> -executors <%= @executors -%> <%= @masterurl_flag -%> <%= @labels_flag -%> <%= @disable_ssl_verification_flag -%> &'
   pgrep -f -u <%= @slave_user -%> <%= @client_jar -%> > $PID_FILE
   RETVAL=$?
   [ $RETVAL -eq 0 ] && touch $LOCK_FILE