diff --git a/src/openssl_stream.c b/src/openssl_stream.c
index 78f705e49..a975bb0c1 100644
--- a/src/openssl_stream.c
+++ b/src/openssl_stream.c
@@ -244,6 +244,9 @@ int openssl_connect(git_stream *stream)
 		return ssl_set_error(st->ssl, ret);
 	}
 
+	/* specify the host in case SNI is needed */
+	SSL_set_tlsext_host_name(st->ssl, st->socket->host);
+
 	if ((ret = SSL_connect(st->ssl)) <= 0)
 		return ssl_set_error(st->ssl, ret);