diff --git a/src/api-lib/vnc_api.py b/src/api-lib/vnc_api.py
index cf5d836d7ea..45e829273a5 100644
--- a/src/api-lib/vnc_api.py
+++ b/src/api-lib/vnc_api.py
@@ -136,8 +136,11 @@ def __init__(self, username=None, password=None, tenant_name=None,
             
         self._api_connect_protocol = VncApi._DEFAULT_API_SERVER_CONNECT
         # API server SSL Support
-        if api_server_use_ssl:
-           self._api_connect_protocol = VncApi._DEFAULT_API_SERVER_SSL_CONNECT
+        use_ssl = api_server_use_ssl
+        if isinstance(api_server_use_ssl, basestring):
+           use_ssl = (api_server_use_ssl.lower() == 'true')
+        if use_ssl:
+             self._api_connect_protocol = VncApi._DEFAULT_API_SERVER_SSL_CONNECT
 
         # keystone
         self._authn_type = auth_type or \