diff --git a/powerline/segments/common/mail.py b/powerline/segments/common/mail.py
index 5bc87c73..82024921 100644
--- a/powerline/segments/common/mail.py
+++ b/powerline/segments/common/mail.py
@@ -3,36 +3,37 @@ from __future__ import (unicode_literals, division, absolute_import, print_funct
 
 import re
 
+from imaplib import IMAP4_SSL_PORT, IMAP4_SSL, IMAP4
 from collections import namedtuple
 
 from powerline.lib.threaded import KwThreadedSegment
 from powerline.segments import with_docstring
 
 
-_IMAPKey = namedtuple('Key', 'username password server port folder')
+_IMAPKey = namedtuple('Key', 'username password server port folder use_ssl')
 
 
 class EmailIMAPSegment(KwThreadedSegment):
 	interval = 60
 
 	@staticmethod
-	def key(username, password, server='imap.gmail.com', port=993, folder='INBOX', **kwargs):
-		return _IMAPKey(username, password, server, port, folder)
+	def key(username, password, server='imap.gmail.com', port=IMAP4_SSL_PORT, folder='INBOX', use_ssl=None, **kwargs):
+		if use_ssl is None:
+			use_ssl = (port == IMAP4_SSL_PORT)
+		return _IMAPKey(username, password, server, port, folder, use_ssl)
 
 	def compute_state(self, key):
 		if not key.username or not key.password:
 			self.warn('Username and password are not configured')
 			return None
-		try:
-			import imaplib
-		except imaplib.IMAP4.error as e:
-			unread_count = str(e)
+		if key.use_ssl:
+			mail = IMAP4_SSL(key.server, key.port)
 		else:
-			mail = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL(key.server, key.port)
-			mail.login(key.username, key.password)
-			rc, message = mail.status(key.folder, '(UNSEEN)')
-			unread_str = message[0].decode('utf-8')
-			unread_count = int(re.search('UNSEEN (\d+)', unread_str).group(1))
+			mail = IMAP4(key.server, key.port)
+		mail.login(key.username, key.password)
+		rc, message = mail.status(key.folder, '(UNSEEN)')
+		unread_str = message[0].decode('utf-8')
+		unread_count = int(re.search('UNSEEN (\d+)', unread_str).group(1))
 		return unread_count
 
 	@staticmethod
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ class EmailIMAPSegment(KwThreadedSegment):
 
 
 email_imap_alert = with_docstring(EmailIMAPSegment(),
-'''Return unread e-mail count for IMAP servers.
+('''Return unread e-mail count for IMAP servers.
 
 :param str username:
 	login username
@@ -69,6 +70,9 @@ email_imap_alert = with_docstring(EmailIMAPSegment(),
 	Maximum number of messages. If there are more messages then max_msgs then it
 	will use gradient level equal to 100, otherwise gradient level is equal to
 	``100 * msgs_num / max_msgs``. If not present gradient is not computed.
+:param bool use_ssl:
+	If ``True`` then use SSL connection. If ``False`` then do not use it. 
+	Default is ``True`` if port is equal to {ssl_port} and ``False`` otherwise.
 
 Highlight groups used: ``email_alert_gradient`` (gradient), ``email_alert``.
-''')
+''').format(ssl_port=IMAP4_SSL_PORT))