diff --git a/lib/pure/net.nim b/lib/pure/net.nim
index 99d868847..af9eea51a 100644
--- a/lib/pure/net.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/net.nim
@@ -430,8 +430,14 @@ when defineSsl:
       raise newException(SSLError, "No error reported.")
     if err == -1:
       raiseOSError(osLastError())
-    var errStr = ErrErrorString(err, nil)
-    raise newException(SSLError, $errStr)
+    var errStr = $ErrErrorString(err, nil)
+    case err
+    of 336032814, 336032784:
+      errStr = "Please upgrade your OpenSSL library, it does not support the " &
+               "necessary protocols. OpenSSL error is: " & errStr
+    else:
+      discard
+    raise newException(SSLError, errStr)
 
   proc getExtraData*(ctx: SSLContext, index: int): RootRef =
     ## Retrieves arbitrary data stored inside SSLContext.