diff --git a/jupyter-openbis-extension/connection.py b/jupyter-openbis-extension/connection.py
index 632334c991b311da75efb5c669c9e1c8438fd9f5..557bc4966487975ee684799b4d2e2473fe4264ac 100644
--- a/jupyter-openbis-extension/connection.py
+++ b/jupyter-openbis-extension/connection.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ def register_connection(connection_info):
         verify_certificates = connection_info.get('verify_certificates', False),
         username            = connection_info.get('username'),
         password            = connection_info.get('password'),
+        http_only           = connection_info.get('http_only', False),
         status              = 'not connected',
     )
     openbis_connections[conn.name] = conn
@@ -32,7 +33,8 @@ class OpenBISConnection:
 
         openbis = Openbis(
             url = self.url,
-            verify_certificates = self.verify_certificates
+            verify_certificates = self.verify_certificates,
+            allow_http_but_do_not_use_this_in_production_and_only_within_safe_networks = self.http_only
         )
         self.openbis = openbis
         self.status = "not connected"