diff --git a/lib/postgrex.ex b/lib/postgrex.ex
index cf97cdee..b82f4e97 100644
--- a/lib/postgrex.ex
+++ b/lib/postgrex.ex
@@ -292,7 +292,6 @@ defmodule Postgrex do
   """
   @spec start_link([start_option]) :: {:ok, pid} | {:error, Postgrex.Error.t() | term}
   def start_link(opts) do
-    ensure_deps_started!(opts)
     opts = Postgrex.Utils.default_opts(opts)
     DBConnection.start_link(Postgrex.Protocol, opts)
   end
@@ -630,7 +629,6 @@ defmodule Postgrex do
   """
   @spec child_spec([start_option]) :: :supervisor.child_spec()
   def child_spec(opts) do
-    ensure_deps_started!(opts)
     opts = Postgrex.Utils.default_opts(opts)
     DBConnection.child_spec(Postgrex.Protocol, opts)
   end
@@ -682,20 +680,4 @@ defmodule Postgrex do
     options = Keyword.put_new(options, :max_rows, @max_rows)
     %Postgrex.Stream{conn: conn, query: query, params: params, options: options}
   end
-
-  ## Helpers
-
-  defp ensure_deps_started!(opts) do
-    if Keyword.get(opts, :ssl, false) and
-         not List.keymember?(:application.which_applications(), :ssl, 0) do
-      raise """
-      SSL connection can not be established because `:ssl` application is not started,
-      you can add it to `extra_applications` in your `mix.exs`:
-
-        def application do
-          [extra_applications: [:ssl]]
-        end
-      """
-    end
-  end
 end
diff --git a/mix.exs b/mix.exs
index aff8cbb7..d65fd12e 100644
--- a/mix.exs
+++ b/mix.exs
@@ -14,14 +14,14 @@ defmodule Postgrex.Mixfile do
       description: "PostgreSQL driver for Elixir",
       docs: docs(),
       package: package(),
-      xref: [exclude: [Jason, :ssl]]
+      xref: [exclude: [Jason]]
     ]
   end
 
   # Configuration for the OTP application
   def application do
     [
-      extra_applications: [:logger, :crypto],
+      extra_applications: [:logger, :crypto, :ssl],
       mod: {Postgrex.App, []},
       env: [type_server_reap_after: 3 * 60_000, json_library: Jason]
     ]
diff --git a/test/postgrex_test.exs b/test/postgrex_test.exs
index 56ff13ff..752e8d18 100644
--- a/test/postgrex_test.exs
+++ b/test/postgrex_test.exs
@@ -2,18 +2,6 @@ defmodule PostgrexTest do
   use ExUnit.Case, async: false
   import ExUnit.CaptureLog
 
-  test "start_link/2 raises when :ssl app is required but not started" do
-    on_exit(fn ->
-      Application.start(:ssl)
-    end)
-
-    Application.stop(:ssl)
-
-    assert_raise RuntimeError, ~r"SSL connection can not be established", fn ->
-      Postgrex.start_link(ssl: true, database: "postgrex_test")
-    end
-  end
-
   test "start_link/2 sets search path" do
     # valid argument
     search_path = ["public", "extension"]