diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/test_proxy.py b/jupyterhub/tests/test_proxy.py
index e912bc62..60f2d0e0 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/test_proxy.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/test_proxy.py
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ from urllib.parse import urlparse
 import pytest
 from traitlets.config import Config
 
-from .. import orm
 from ..utils import url_path_join as ujoin
 from ..utils import wait_for_http_server
 from .mocking import MockHub
 from .test_api import add_user
 from .test_api import api_request
+from .utils import skip_if_ssl
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ def disable_check_routes(app):
         app.last_activity_callback.start()
 
 
+@skip_if_ssl
 async def test_external_proxy(request):
     auth_token = 'secret!'
     proxy_ip = '127.0.0.1'
diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/test_services.py b/jupyterhub/tests/test_services.py
index 127a9f45..22ee175b 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/test_services.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/test_services.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from ..utils import url_path_join
 from ..utils import wait_for_http_server
 from .mocking import public_url
 from .utils import async_requests
+from .utils import skip_if_ssl
 
 mockservice_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
 mockservice_py = os.path.join(mockservice_path, 'mockservice.py')
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ async def test_managed_service(mockservice):
     assert service.proc.poll() is None
 
 
+@skip_if_ssl
 async def test_proxy_service(app, mockservice_url):
     service = mockservice_url
     name = service.name
@@ -76,6 +78,7 @@ async def test_proxy_service(app, mockservice_url):
     assert r.text.endswith(path)
 
 
+@skip_if_ssl
 async def test_external_service(app):
     name = 'external'
     async with external_service(app, name=name) as env:
diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/utils.py b/jupyterhub/tests/utils.py
index 09aeb196..2c8210b2 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/utils.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/utils.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import asyncio
+import os
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 
+import pytest
 import requests
 from certipy import Certipy
 
@@ -52,6 +54,9 @@ def ssl_setup(cert_dir, authority_name):
     return external_certs
 
 
+skip_if_ssl = pytest.mark.skipif(os.environ.get('SSL_ENABLED', False))
+
+
 def check_db_locks(func):
     """Decorator that verifies no locks are held on database upon exit.