diff --git a/lib/imap.c b/lib/imap.c
index ba6c61078..c39664d86 100644
--- a/lib/imap.c
+++ b/lib/imap.c
@@ -354,8 +354,12 @@ static CURLcode imap_state_starttls_resp(struct connectdata *conn,
   (void)instate; /* no use for this yet */
 
   if(imapcode != 'O') {
-    failf(data, "STARTTLS denied. %c", imapcode);
-    result = CURLE_USE_SSL_FAILED;
+    if(data->set.use_ssl != CURLUSESSL_TRY) {
+      failf(data, "STARTTLS denied. %c", imapcode);
+      result = CURLE_USE_SSL_FAILED;
+    }
+    else
+      result = imap_state_login(conn);
   }
   else {
     if(data->state.used_interface == Curl_if_multi) {
diff --git a/lib/pop3.c b/lib/pop3.c
index 283025120..b7781109b 100644
--- a/lib/pop3.c
+++ b/lib/pop3.c
@@ -298,9 +298,13 @@ static CURLcode pop3_state_starttls_resp(struct connectdata *conn,
   (void)instate; /* no use for this yet */
 
   if(pop3code != 'O') {
-    failf(data, "STARTTLS denied. %c", pop3code);
-    result = CURLE_USE_SSL_FAILED;
-    state(conn, POP3_STOP);
+    if(data->set.use_ssl != CURLUSESSL_TRY) {
+      failf(data, "STARTTLS denied. %c", pop3code);
+      result = CURLE_USE_SSL_FAILED;
+      state(conn, POP3_STOP);
+    }
+    else
+      result = pop3_state_user(conn);
   }
   else {
     /* Curl_ssl_connect is BLOCKING */