diff --git a/doc/api/cli.md b/doc/api/cli.md
index 30d4c62e52b8a1..3aeac43afb3e3e 100644
--- a/doc/api/cli.md
+++ b/doc/api/cli.md
@@ -243,6 +243,24 @@ Load an OpenSSL configuration file on startup. Among other uses, this can be
 used to enable FIPS-compliant crypto if Node.js is built with
 `./configure --openssl-fips`.
 
+### `--use-openssl-ca`, `--use-bundled-ca`
+<!-- YAML
+added: REPLACEME
+-->
+
+Use OpenSSL's default CA store or use bundled Mozilla CA store as supplied by
+current NodeJS version. The default store is selectable at build-time.
+
+Using OpenSSL store allows for external modifications of the store. For most
+Linux and BSD distributions, this store is maintained by the distribution
+maintainers and system administrators. OpenSSL CA store location is dependent on
+configuration of the OpenSSL library but this can be altered at runtime using
+environmental variables.
+
+The bundled CA store, as supplied by NodeJS, is a snapshot of Mozilla CA store
+that is fixed at release time. It is identical on all supported platforms.
+
+See `SSL_CERT_DIR` and `SSL_CERT_FILE`.
 
 ### `--icu-data-dir=file`
 <!-- YAML
@@ -336,6 +354,24 @@ misformatted, but any errors are otherwise ignored.
 Note that neither the well known nor extra certificates are used when the `ca`
 options property is explicitly specified for a TLS or HTTPS client or server.
 
+### `SSL_CERT_DIR=dir`
+
+If `--use-openssl-ca` is enabled, this overrides and sets OpenSSL's directory
+containing trusted certificates.
+
+Note: Be aware that unless the child environment is explicitly set, this
+evironment variable will be inherited by any child processes, and if they use
+OpenSSL, it may cause them to trust the same CAs as node.
+
+### `SSL_CERT_FILE=file`
+
+If `--use-openssl-ca` is enabled, this overrides and sets OpenSSL's file
+containing trusted certificates.
+
+Note: Be aware that unless the child environment is explicitly set, this
+evironment variable will be inherited by any child processes, and if they use
+OpenSSL, it may cause them to trust the same CAs as node.
+
 [emit_warning]: process.html#process_process_emitwarning_warning_name_ctor
 [Buffer]: buffer.html#buffer_buffer
 [debugger]: debugger.html
diff --git a/doc/node.1 b/doc/node.1
index a2426594c0d381..e609a9d781e04a 100644
--- a/doc/node.1
+++ b/doc/node.1
@@ -171,6 +171,22 @@ Load an OpenSSL configuration file on startup. Among other uses, this can be
 used to enable FIPS-compliant crypto if Node.js is built with
 \fB./configure \-\-openssl\-fips\fR.
 
+.TP
+.BR \-\-use\-openssl\-ca,\-\-use\-bundled\-ca
+Use OpenSSL's default CA store or use bundled Mozilla CA store as supplied by
+current NodeJS version. The default store is selectable at build-time.
+
+Using OpenSSL store allows for external modifications of the store. For most
+Linux and BSD distributions, this store is maintained by the distribution
+maintainers and system administrators. OpenSSL CA store location is dependent on
+configuration of the OpenSSL library but this can be altered at runtime using
+environmental variables.
+
+The bundled CA store, as supplied by NodeJS, is a snapshot of Mozilla CA store
+that is fixed at release time. It is identical on all supported platforms.
+
+See \fBSSL_CERT_DIR\fR and \fBSSL_CERT_FILE\fR.
+
 .TP
 .BR \-\-icu\-data\-dir =\fIfile\fR
 Specify ICU data load path. (overrides \fBNODE_ICU_DATA\fR)
@@ -219,6 +235,15 @@ asynchronous when outputting to a TTY on platforms which support async stdio.
 Setting this will void any guarantee that stdio will not be interleaved or
 dropped at program exit. \fBAvoid use.\fR
 
+.TP
+.BR SSL_CERT_DIR = \fIdir\fR
+If \fB\-\-use\-openssl\-ca\fR is enabled, this overrides and sets OpenSSL's directory
+containing trusted certificates.
+
+.TP
+.BR SSL_CERT_FILE = \fIfile\fR
+If \fB\-\-use\-openssl\-ca\fR is enabled, this overrides and sets OpenSSL's
+file containing trusted certificates.
 
 .SH BUGS
 Bugs are tracked in GitHub Issues:
diff --git a/src/node.cc b/src/node.cc
index 33d38303d12d3b..96cfe9f2c3206c 100644
--- a/src/node.cc
+++ b/src/node.cc
@@ -161,6 +161,14 @@ static const char* icu_data_dir = nullptr;
 bool no_deprecation = false;
 
 #if HAVE_OPENSSL
+// use OpenSSL's cert store instead of bundled certs
+bool ssl_openssl_cert_store =
+#if defined(NODE_OPENSSL_CERT_STORE)
+        true;
+#else
+        false;
+#endif
+
 # if NODE_FIPS_MODE
 // used by crypto module
 bool enable_fips_crypto = false;
@@ -3487,6 +3495,16 @@ static void PrintHelp() {
          "  --v8-pool-size=num    set v8's thread pool size\n"
 #if HAVE_OPENSSL
          "  --tls-cipher-list=val use an alternative default TLS cipher list\n"
+         "  --use-bundled-ca      use bundled CA store"
+#if !defined(NODE_OPENSSL_CERT_STORE)
+         " (default)"
+#endif
+         "\n"
+         "  --use-openssl-ca      use OpenSSL's default CA store"
+#if defined(NODE_OPENSSL_CERT_STORE)
+         " (default)"
+#endif
+         "\n"
 #if NODE_FIPS_MODE
          "  --enable-fips         enable FIPS crypto at startup\n"
          "  --force-fips          force FIPS crypto (cannot be disabled)\n"
@@ -3650,6 +3668,10 @@ static void ParseArgs(int* argc,
 #if HAVE_OPENSSL
     } else if (strncmp(arg, "--tls-cipher-list=", 18) == 0) {
       default_cipher_list = arg + 18;
+    } else if (strncmp(arg, "--use-openssl-ca", 16) == 0) {
+      ssl_openssl_cert_store = true;
+    } else if (strncmp(arg, "--use-bundled-ca", 16) == 0) {
+      ssl_openssl_cert_store = false;
 #if NODE_FIPS_MODE
     } else if (strcmp(arg, "--enable-fips") == 0) {
       enable_fips_crypto = true;
diff --git a/src/node.h b/src/node.h
index 873551fa338a97..1255a4af7f11ce 100644
--- a/src/node.h
+++ b/src/node.h
@@ -179,9 +179,12 @@ typedef intptr_t ssize_t;
 namespace node {
 
 NODE_EXTERN extern bool no_deprecation;
-#if HAVE_OPENSSL && NODE_FIPS_MODE
+#if HAVE_OPENSSL
+NODE_EXTERN extern bool ssl_openssl_cert_store;
+# if NODE_FIPS_MODE
 NODE_EXTERN extern bool enable_fips_crypto;
 NODE_EXTERN extern bool force_fips_crypto;
+# endif
 #endif
 
 NODE_EXTERN int Start(int argc, char *argv[]);
diff --git a/src/node_crypto.cc b/src/node_crypto.cc
index cd485c63ab4a53..1f5d4c652abf56 100644
--- a/src/node_crypto.cc
+++ b/src/node_crypto.cc
@@ -707,14 +707,14 @@ static X509_STORE* NewRootCertStore() {
   }
 
   X509_STORE* store = X509_STORE_new();
-#if defined(NODE_OPENSSL_CERT_STORE)
-  X509_STORE_set_default_paths(store);
-#else
-  for (X509 *cert : root_certs_vector) {
-    X509_up_ref(cert);
-    X509_STORE_add_cert(store, cert);
+  if (ssl_openssl_cert_store) {
+    X509_STORE_set_default_paths(store);
+  } else {
+    for (X509 *cert : root_certs_vector) {
+      X509_up_ref(cert);
+      X509_STORE_add_cert(store, cert);
+    }
   }
-#endif
 
   return store;
 }