diff --git a/dtool/Config.pp b/dtool/Config.pp
index 99daf9cbcf..5eee01c671 100644
--- a/dtool/Config.pp
+++ b/dtool/Config.pp
@@ -201,6 +201,8 @@
 #define SSL_LPATH /usr/local/ssl/lib
 #define SSL_LIBS ssl crypto
 #defer HAVE_SSL $[libtest $[SSL_LPATH],$[SSL_LIBS]]
+// Define this nonempty if your version of OpenSSL is 0.9.7 or better.
+#define SSL_097
 
 // Is Crypto++ installed, and where?
 #define CRYPTO_IPATH /usr/include/crypto++
diff --git a/dtool/LocalSetup.pp b/dtool/LocalSetup.pp
index 9034112473..b51c6185c3 100644
--- a/dtool/LocalSetup.pp
+++ b/dtool/LocalSetup.pp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ $[cdefine HAVE_NSPR]
 
 /* Define if we have OpenSSL installed.  */
 $[cdefine HAVE_SSL]
+$[cdefine SSL_097]
 
 /* Define if we have crypto++ installed.  */
 $[cdefine HAVE_CRYPTO]