diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index 1226b848..18859c54 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ Bug Fixes
 * Improve missing ssh-extras message.
 * Fix repeated control-r in traditional reverse isearch.
 * Fix spelling of `ssl-verify-server-cert` option.
+* Improve handling of `ssl-verify-server-cert` False values.
 
 
 Internal
diff --git a/mycli/main.py b/mycli/main.py
index d386cb52..3e62643b 100755
--- a/mycli/main.py
+++ b/mycli/main.py
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ def merge_ssl_with_cnf(self, ssl: dict[str, Any], cnf: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[s
             # special case because PyMySQL argument is significantly different
             # from commandline
             if k == "ssl-verify-server-cert":
-                merged["check_hostname"] = v
+                merged["check_hostname"] = str_to_bool(v)
             else:
                 # use argument name just strip "ssl-" prefix
                 arg = k[len(prefix) :]