diff --git a/httplib.h b/httplib.h
index 00db6a8..32bd094 100644
--- a/httplib.h
+++ b/httplib.h
@@ -10923,7 +10923,11 @@ inline long SSLClient::get_openssl_verify_result() const {
 inline SSL_CTX *SSLClient::ssl_context() const { return ctx_; }
 
 inline bool SSLClient::create_and_connect_socket(Socket &socket, Error &error) {
-  return is_valid() && ClientImpl::create_and_connect_socket(socket, error);
+  if (!is_valid()) {
+    error = Error::SSLConnection;
+    return false;
+  }
+  return ClientImpl::create_and_connect_socket(socket, error);
 }
 
 // Assumes that socket_mutex_ is locked and that there are no requests in