diff --git a/youtube_dl/utils.py b/youtube_dl/utils.py
index 7b58788309..a84aa59c22 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/utils.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/utils.py
@@ -561,11 +561,14 @@ def https_open(self, req):
         return HTTPSHandlerV3()
     else:
         context = ssl.SSLContext(ssl.PROTOCOL_SSLv3)
-        context.set_default_verify_paths()
-        
         context.verify_mode = (ssl.CERT_NONE
                                if opts_no_check_certificate
                                else ssl.CERT_REQUIRED)
+        context.set_default_verify_paths()
+        try:
+            context.load_default_certs()
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass  # Python < 3.4
         return compat_urllib_request.HTTPSHandler(context=context)
 
 class ExtractorError(Exception):