diff --git a/charmhelpers/contrib/network/ip.py b/charmhelpers/contrib/network/ip.py
index cf9926b95..4caab7e5c 100644
--- a/charmhelpers/contrib/network/ip.py
+++ b/charmhelpers/contrib/network/ip.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import re
 import subprocess
 import socket
+import ssl
 
 from functools import partial
 
@@ -542,6 +543,30 @@ def port_has_listener(address, port):
     return not (bool(result))
 
 
+def port_has_listener_ssl(address, port, key, cert, ca_cert):
+    """
+    Returns True if the address:port is open and being listened to,
+    else False.
+
+    @param address: an IP address or hostname
+    @param port: integer port
+    @param: cert: path to cert
+    @param: key: path to key
+    @param: ca_cert: path to ca cert
+    """
+    hostname = address
+    context = ssl.create_default_context()
+    context.check_hostname = False
+    context.load_cert_chain(cert, key)
+    context.load_verify_locations(ca_cert)
+    try:
+        with socket.create_connection((hostname, port)) as sock:
+            with context.wrap_socket(sock, server_hostname=hostname):
+                return True
+    except ConnectionRefusedError:
+        return False
+
+
 def assert_charm_supports_ipv6():
     """Check whether we are able to support charms ipv6."""
     release = lsb_release()['DISTRIB_CODENAME'].lower()
diff --git a/charmhelpers/contrib/openstack/utils.py b/charmhelpers/contrib/openstack/utils.py
index da711c65d..dc313d5e8 100644
--- a/charmhelpers/contrib/openstack/utils.py
+++ b/charmhelpers/contrib/openstack/utils.py
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
     get_ipv6_addr,
     is_ipv6,
     port_has_listener,
+    port_has_listener_ssl,
 )
 
 from charmhelpers.core.host import (
@@ -1207,12 +1208,19 @@ def _ows_check_services_running(services, ports):
     return ows_check_services_running(services, ports)
 
 
-def ows_check_services_running(services, ports):
+def ows_check_services_running(services, ports, use_ssl_check=False,
+                               ssl_check_info=None):
     """Check that the services that should be running are actually running
     and that any ports specified are being listened to.
 
     @param services: list of strings OR dictionary specifying services/ports
     @param ports: list of ports
+    @param use_ssl_check: Set to True if you want to use ssl to check
+                              service ports rather than netcat. Default is
+                              False.
+    @param ssl_check_info: If use_ssl_check is True this is a dict of
+                               {key: <path to key>, cert: <path to cert>} used
+                               by ssl when checking ports using SSL.
     @returns state, message: strings or None, None
     """
     messages = []
@@ -1228,7 +1236,9 @@ def ows_check_services_running(services, ports):
         # also verify that the ports that should be open are open
         # NB, that ServiceManager objects only OPTIONALLY have ports
         map_not_open, ports_open = (
-            _check_listening_on_services_ports(services))
+            _check_listening_on_services_ports(services,
+                                               use_ssl_check=use_ssl_check,
+                                               ssl_check_info=ssl_check_info))
         if not all(ports_open):
             # find which service has missing ports. They are in service
             # order which makes it a bit easier.
@@ -1302,7 +1312,9 @@ def _check_running_services(services):
     return list(zip(services, services_running)), services_running
 
 
-def _check_listening_on_services_ports(services, test=False):
+def _check_listening_on_services_ports(services, test=False,
+                                       use_ssl_check=False,
+                                       ssl_check_info=None):
     """Check that the unit is actually listening (has the port open) on the
     ports that the service specifies are open. If test is True then the
     function returns the services with ports that are open rather than
@@ -1316,7 +1328,13 @@ def _check_listening_on_services_ports(services, test=False):
     """
     test = not (not (test))  # ensure test is True or False
     all_ports = list(itertools.chain(*services.values()))
-    ports_states = [port_has_listener('0.0.0.0', p) for p in all_ports]
+    if use_ssl_check:
+        def f_port_listener_check(*args):
+            return port_has_listener_ssl(*args, **ssl_check_info)
+    else:
+        f_port_listener_check = port_has_listener
+
+    ports_states = [f_port_listener_check('0.0.0.0', p) for p in all_ports]
     map_ports = OrderedDict()
     matched_ports = [p for p, opened in zip(all_ports, ports_states)
                      if opened == test]  # essentially opened xor test