diff --git a/gui/qt/network_dialog.py b/gui/qt/network_dialog.py
index 28daf14c..f1c578e3 100644
--- a/gui/qt/network_dialog.py
+++ b/gui/qt/network_dialog.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import PyQt5.QtCore as QtCore
 from electrum.i18n import _
 from electrum.bitcoin import NetworkConstants
 from electrum.util import print_error
+from electrum.network import serialize_server, deserialize_server
 
 from .util import *
 
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ class ServerListWidget(QTreeWidget):
         menu.exec_(self.viewport().mapToGlobal(position))
 
     def set_server(self, s):
-        host, port, protocol = s.split(':')
+        host, port, protocol = deserialize_server(s)
         self.parent.server_host.setText(host)
         self.parent.server_port.setText(port)
         self.parent.set_server()
@@ -170,7 +171,7 @@ class ServerListWidget(QTreeWidget):
             port = d.get(protocol)
             if port:
                 x = QTreeWidgetItem([_host, port])
-                server = _host+':'+port+':'+protocol
+                server = serialize_server(_host, port, protocol)
                 x.setData(1, Qt.UserRole, server)
                 self.addTopLevelItem(x)
 
@@ -408,7 +409,7 @@ class NetworkChoiceLayout(object):
     def follow_server(self, server):
         self.network.switch_to_interface(server)
         host, port, protocol, proxy, auto_connect = self.network.get_parameters()
-        host, port, protocol = server.split(':')
+        host, port, protocol = deserialize_server(server)
         self.network.set_parameters(host, port, protocol, proxy, auto_connect)
         self.update()
 
@@ -441,7 +442,6 @@ class NetworkChoiceLayout(object):
         host, port, protocol, proxy, auto_connect = self.network.get_parameters()
         host = str(self.server_host.text())
         port = str(self.server_port.text())
-        protocol = 't' if self.config.get('nossl') else 's'
         auto_connect = self.autoconnect_cb.isChecked()
         self.network.set_parameters(host, port, protocol, proxy, auto_connect)
 
diff --git a/lib/commands.py b/lib/commands.py
index ff13ae68..1987d467 100644
--- a/lib/commands.py
+++ b/lib/commands.py
@@ -823,7 +823,6 @@ def add_global_options(parser):
     group.add_argument("-P", "--portable", action="store_true", dest="portable", default=False, help="Use local 'electrum_data' directory")
     group.add_argument("-w", "--wallet", dest="wallet_path", help="wallet path")
     group.add_argument("--testnet", action="store_true", dest="testnet", default=False, help="Use Testnet")
-    group.add_argument("--nossl", action="store_true", dest="nossl", default=False, help="Disable SSL")
 
 def get_parser():
     # create main parser
diff --git a/lib/network.py b/lib/network.py
index 16e321fa..8456ad5a 100644
--- a/lib/network.py
+++ b/lib/network.py
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ def deserialize_proxy(s):
 
 
 def deserialize_server(server_str):
-    host, port, protocol = str(server_str).split(':')
+    host, port, protocol = str(server_str).rsplit(':', 2)
     assert protocol in 'st'
     int(port)    # Throw if cannot be converted to int
     return host, port, protocol
@@ -171,15 +171,15 @@ class Network(util.DaemonThread):
         self.blockchain_index = config.get('blockchain_index', 0)
         if self.blockchain_index not in self.blockchains.keys():
             self.blockchain_index = 0
-        self.protocol = 't' if self.config.get('nossl') else 's'
         # Server for addresses and transactions
-        self.default_server = self.config.get('server')
+        self.default_server = self.config.get('server', None)
         # Sanitize default server
-        try:
-            host, port, protocol = deserialize_server(self.default_server)
-            assert protocol == self.protocol
-        except:
-            self.default_server = None
+        if self.default_server:
+            try:
+                deserialize_server(self.default_server)
+            except:
+                self.print_error('Warning: failed to parse server-string; falling back to random.')
+                self.default_server = None
         if not self.default_server:
             self.default_server = pick_random_server()
         self.lock = threading.Lock()
@@ -220,7 +220,8 @@ class Network(util.DaemonThread):
         self.connecting = set()
         self.requested_chunks = set()
         self.socket_queue = queue.Queue()
-        self.start_network(self.protocol, deserialize_proxy(self.config.get('proxy')))
+        self.start_network(deserialize_server(self.default_server)[2],
+                           deserialize_proxy(self.config.get('proxy')))
 
     def register_callback(self, callback, events):
         with self.lock: