diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index ada2178..00ec1f0 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ var escOptions = {
   hosts: [{
     host: conf.ES_HOST,
     port: conf.ES_PORT,
-    auth: (conf.ES_USER && conf.ES_PASS) ? conf.ES_USER + ':' + conf.ES_PASS : null
+    auth: (conf.ES_USER && conf.ES_PASS) ? conf.ES_USER + ':' + conf.ES_PASS : null,
+    protocol: conf.ES_PROTOCOL
   }]
 };
 
diff --git a/config.example.js b/config.example.js
index 96adba0..e301404 100644
--- a/config.example.js
+++ b/config.example.js
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ else {
 
   // ElasticSearch password for http auth
   exports.ES_PASS  = process.env.ES_PASS || null;
+
+  // ElasticSearch protocol for http auth
+  exports.ES_PROTOCOL = process.env.ES_PROTOCOL || 'http';
 }
 
 /** Paths to Monitor