diff --git a/backend/configure-ssl.js b/backend/configure-ssl.js
index 59dd3ec..0bb3dfa 100644
--- a/backend/configure-ssl.js
+++ b/backend/configure-ssl.js
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@ const path = require('path')
 // if on glitch, force https
 module.exports = (app) => {
   var server
+
   if(process.env.GLITCH) {
-    var http = require('http')
+	var http = require('http')
     server = http.createServer(app)
 
     function checkHttps(req, res, next){
@@ -19,11 +20,22 @@ module.exports = (app) => {
 
     app.all('*', checkHttps)
   } else {
-    var https = require('https')
-    var privateKey = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '/certs/key.pem'), 'utf8')
-    var certificate = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '/certs/certificate.pem'), 'utf8')
-    var credentials = {key: privateKey, cert: certificate}
-    server = https.createServer(credentials, app)
+    try {
+      var https = require('https')
+      var privateKey = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '/certs/key.pem'), 'utf8')
+      var certificate = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '/certs/certificate.pem'), 'utf8')
+      var credentials = {key: privateKey, cert: certificate}
+      server = https.createServer(credentials, app)
+    } catch (err) {
+		if (err.code === 'ENOENT') {
+		  console.log("no TLS certificate at", err.path)
+		  var http = require('http')
+          server = http.createServer(app)
+	    } else {
+          throw err
+		}
+	}
   }
+
   return server
 }