diff --git a/m4/check_ssl.m4 b/m4/check_ssl.m4
index 1a53c0335c..c6fc398878 100644
--- a/m4/check_ssl.m4
+++ b/m4/check_ssl.m4
@@ -1,42 +1,45 @@
 AC_DEFUN([CHECK_SSL],
-[AC_MSG_CHECKING(if ssl is wanted)
+[AC_MSG_CHECKING(for openssl)
 SSLDIR=
+found_ssl="no"
 AC_ARG_WITH(ssl,
-[  --with-ssl enable ssl [will check /usr/local/ssl
-                            /usr/lib/ssl /usr/ssl /usr/pkg /usr/local /usr ]
-],
-[   AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
-    for dir in $withval /usr/local/ssl /usr/lib/ssl /usr/ssl /usr/pkg /usr/local /usr; do
-        ssldir="$dir"
-        if test -f "$dir/include/openssl/ssl.h"; then
-            found_ssl="yes";
-	    SSLDIR="${ssldir}"
-            CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -I$ssldir/include -I$ssldir/include/openssl";
-            CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS -I$ssldir/include -I$ssldir/include/openssl";
-            break;
-        fi
-        if test -f "$dir/include/ssl.h"; then
-            found_ssl="yes";
-	    SSLDIR="${ssldir}"
-            CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -I$ssldir/include/";
-            CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS -I$ssldir/include/";
-            break
-        fi
-    done
-    if test x_$found_ssl != x_yes; then
-        AC_MSG_ERROR(Cannot find ssl libraries)
-    else
+    AC_HELP_STRING([--with-ssl],
+       [Use openssl (in specified installation directory)]),
+    [check_ssl_dir="$withval"],
+    [check_ssl_dir=])
+for dir in $check_ssl_dir /usr/local/ssl /usr/lib/ssl /usr/ssl /usr/pkg /usr/local /usr; do
+   ssldir="$dir"
+   if test -f "$dir/include/openssl/ssl.h"; then
+     found_ssl="yes";
+     SSLDIR="${ssldir}"
+     CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -I$ssldir/include -I$ssldir/include/openssl";
+     CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS -I$ssldir/include -I$ssldir/include/openssl";
+     break;
+   fi
+   if test -f "$dir/include/ssl.h"; then
+     found_ssl="yes";
+     SSLDIR="${ssldir}"
+     CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -I$ssldir/include/";
+     CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS -I$ssldir/include/";
+     break
+   fi
+done
+AC_MSG_RESULT($found_ssl)
+if test x_$found_ssl != x_yes; then
+   AC_MSG_ERROR([
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
+  Cannot find openssl libraries.
+
+  Please install openssl or specify installation directory with
+  --with-ssl=(dir).
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
+])
+else
         printf "OpenSSL found in $ssldir\n";
         LIBS="$LIBS -lssl -lcrypto";
         LDFLAGS="$LDFLAGS -L$ssldir/lib";
 	AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([USE_OPENSSL],[1],
 	  ["Define to 1 if you want to use the openssl crypto library"])
 	AC_SUBST(SSLDIR)
-    fi
-],
-[
-    AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([USE_RSAEURO],[1],
-      ["Define to 1 if you want to use the RSAEURO crypto library"])
-    AC_MSG_RESULT(no)
-])
+fi
 ])dnl