diff --git a/kombu/connection.py b/kombu/connection.py
index df284762..9a6146dc 100644
--- a/kombu/connection.py
+++ b/kombu/connection.py
@@ -110,8 +110,6 @@ class Connection(object):
             >>> conn.release()
 
     """
-    SSLNotSupported = exceptions.SSLNotSupported
-
     port = None
     virtual_host = '/'
     connect_timeout = 5
@@ -235,9 +233,6 @@ class Connection(object):
         self.transport_cls = transport
         self.heartbeat = heartbeat and float(heartbeat)
 
-        if ssl and transport == 'librabbitmq':
-            raise self.SSLNotSupported(transport)
-
     def _debug(self, msg, *args, **kwargs):
         fmt = '[Kombu connection:0x%(id)x] %(msg)s'
         if self._logger:  # pragma: no cover
diff --git a/kombu/exceptions.py b/kombu/exceptions.py
index a81db17c..32261506 100644
--- a/kombu/exceptions.py
+++ b/kombu/exceptions.py
@@ -45,8 +45,6 @@ class ChannelLimitExceeded(LimitExceeded):
     """Maximum number of simultaneous channels exceeded."""
     pass
 
-class SSLNotSupported(KombuError):
-    pass
 
 class StdConnectionError(KombuError):
     pass
diff --git a/kombu/transport/librabbitmq.py b/kombu/transport/librabbitmq.py
index acfa33e7..818acc77 100644
--- a/kombu/transport/librabbitmq.py
+++ b/kombu/transport/librabbitmq.py
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ from . import base
 
 DEFAULT_PORT = 5672
 
+NO_SSL_ERROR = """\
+ssl not supported by librabbitmq, please use pyamqp:// or stunnel\
+"""
+
 
 class Message(base.Message):
 
@@ -98,6 +102,8 @@ class Transport(base.Transport):
         for name, default_value in self.default_connection_params.items():
             if not getattr(conninfo, name, None):
                 setattr(conninfo, name, default_value)
+        if conninfo.ssl:
+            raise NotImplementedError(NO_SSL_ERROR)
         conn = self.Connection(host=conninfo.host,
                                userid=conninfo.userid,
                                password=conninfo.password,