diff --git a/status/lang/en b/status/lang/en
index c02d68c18..cf5c1172d 100644
--- a/status/lang/en
+++ b/status/lang/en
@@ -496,6 +496,7 @@ sslcert_file=From file on server
 sslcert_eurl=Missing, invalid or non-SSL URL
 sslcert_efile=Missing or invalid certificate file
 sslcert_ecert=Could not get certificate
+sslcert_edown=Web server is down
 sslcert_days=Days before expiry to fail
 sslcert_when=When expired
 sslcert_mismatch=Also detect hostname mismatch?
diff --git a/status/sslcert-monitor.pl b/status/sslcert-monitor.pl
index 093b44b86..3136b41fd 100755
--- a/status/sslcert-monitor.pl
+++ b/status/sslcert-monitor.pl
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ if ($_[0]->{'url'}) {
 	local $out = &backquote_with_timeout($cmd, 10);
 	if ($?) {
 		# Connection failed
-		return { 'up' => -1 };
+		return { 'up' => -1,
+			 'desc' => $text{'sslcert_edown'} };
 		}
 
 	# Extract the cert part and save