diff --git a/src/main/java/net/researchgate/azkaban/LdapUserManager.java b/src/main/java/net/researchgate/azkaban/LdapUserManager.java
index 9905133..0a0c6ab 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/researchgate/azkaban/LdapUserManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/researchgate/azkaban/LdapUserManager.java
@@ -509,7 +509,9 @@ private LdapConnection getLdapConnection() throws LdapException {
         config.setUseSsl(useSsl);
         config.setTrustManagers(keystoreTrustManager);
         LdapNetworkConnection connection = new LdapNetworkConnection(config);
-        connection.startTls();
+        if (startTLS){
+            connection.startTls();
+        }
         connection.bind(ldapBindAccount, ldapBindPassword);
         return connection;
     }