diff --git a/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md b/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
index 4a5832ad4..1038e12a9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 
 ### FEATURES
 
+- [rpc] support https inside websocket (@RiccardoM, @cmwaters)
+
 ### IMPROVEMENTS
 
 ### BUG FIXES
diff --git a/rpc/jsonrpc/client/ws_client.go b/rpc/jsonrpc/client/ws_client.go
index 09b41888f..5a4839b04 100644
--- a/rpc/jsonrpc/client/ws_client.go
+++ b/rpc/jsonrpc/client/ws_client.go
@@ -89,8 +89,10 @@ func NewWS(remoteAddr, endpoint string, options ...func(*WSClient)) (*WSClient,
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	// default to ws protocol, unless wss is explicitly specified
-	if parsedURL.Scheme != protoWSS {
+	// default to ws protocol, unless wss or https is specified
+	if parsedURL.Scheme == protoHTTPS {
+		parsedURL.Scheme = protoWSS
+	} else if parsedURL.Scheme != protoWSS {
 		parsedURL.Scheme = protoWS
 	}