diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 57e485f..5cb7a40 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -28,6 +28,15 @@ end
 - Session registry
 - Two-phase parse of FIX messages
 
+When using SSL (`transport_mod: :ssl`), make sure the Erlang `:ssl` application
+is started by listing it under `extra_applications` in your `mix.exs`:
+
+```elixir
+def application do
+  [extra_applications: [:logger, :crypto, :ssl]]
+end
+```
+
 ## Usage
 
 ```elixir
diff --git a/examples/ex_fix_initiator/README.md b/examples/ex_fix_initiator/README.md
index 2c75a50..db36e7d 100644
--- a/examples/ex_fix_initiator/README.md
+++ b/examples/ex_fix_initiator/README.md
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 Example of FIX initiator that sends 10,000 orders to a QuickFIX/J acceptor
 over a SSL connection.
 
+Make sure the `:ssl` application is started by adding it to
+`extra_applications` in `mix.exs`.
+
 ## Running
 
 First run QuickFIX/J acceptor; see `examples/quickfixj_acceptor/README.md`.
diff --git a/examples/ex_fix_initiator/mix.exs b/examples/ex_fix_initiator/mix.exs
index f5ca2b3..4d02508 100644
--- a/examples/ex_fix_initiator/mix.exs
+++ b/examples/ex_fix_initiator/mix.exs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ defmodule ExFixInitiator.Mixfile do
 
   def application do
     # Specify extra applications you'll use from Erlang/Elixir
-    [extra_applications: [:logger],
+    [extra_applications: [:logger, :ssl],
      mod: {ExFixInitiator.Application, []}]
   end