diff --git a/i3pystatus/mail/imap.py b/i3pystatus/mail/imap.py
index 154d2cf..d804192 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/mail/imap.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/mail/imap.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class IMAP(Backend):
     required = ("host", "username", "password")
 
     port = 993
-    ssl = False
+    ssl = True
 
     imap_class = imaplib.IMAP4
     connection = None
@@ -51,3 +51,5 @@ class IMAP(Backend):
         conn = self.get_connection()
         if conn:
             return len(conn.search(None,"UnSeen")[1][0].split())
+        else:
+            sys.stderr.write("no connection")