diff --git a/integration/scripts/files/elements/fedora-guest/install.d/21-use-fedora-certificates b/integration/scripts/files/elements/fedora-guest/install.d/21-use-fedora-certificates
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..8ef6c50a21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/integration/scripts/files/elements/fedora-guest/install.d/21-use-fedora-certificates
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# CONTEXT: GUEST during CONSTRUCTION as ROOT
+# PURPOSE: configure trove-guest service to use system store of trusted certificates
+
+GUEST_UNIT_DROPINS="/etc/systemd/system/trove-guest.service.d"
+
+mkdir -v -p ${GUEST_UNIT_DROPINS}
+echo -e '[Service]\nEnvironment=REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE=/etc/pki/tls/certs' > ${GUEST_UNIT_DROPINS}/30-use-system-certificates.conf
+
+
diff --git a/integration/scripts/files/elements/ubuntu-xenial-guest/install.d/21-use-ubuntu-certificates b/integration/scripts/files/elements/ubuntu-xenial-guest/install.d/21-use-ubuntu-certificates
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..ab9469ed93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/integration/scripts/files/elements/ubuntu-xenial-guest/install.d/21-use-ubuntu-certificates
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# CONTEXT: GUEST during CONSTRUCTION as ROOT
+# PURPOSE: configure trove-guest service to use system store of trusted certificates
+
+GUEST_UNIT_DROPINS="/etc/systemd/system/trove-guest.service.d"
+
+mkdir -v -p ${GUEST_UNIT_DROPINS}
+echo -e '[Service]\nEnvironment=REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE=/etc/ssl/certs' > ${GUEST_UNIT_DROPINS}/30-use-system-certificates.conf
+
+
diff --git a/integration/scripts/files/trove-guest.upstart.conf b/integration/scripts/files/trove-guest.upstart.conf
index 2e20d6cfb9..f6a3dba24a 100644
--- a/integration/scripts/files/trove-guest.upstart.conf
+++ b/integration/scripts/files/trove-guest.upstart.conf
@@ -36,5 +36,7 @@ script
 
     fi
 
-    exec su -c "/home/GUEST_USERNAME/trove/contrib/trove-guestagent $TROVE_CONFIG" GUEST_USERNAME
+    # Requests: CA directories not supported in older Pythons, a custom bundle file is needed
+    cat /usr/local/share/ca-certificates/*.crt > /usr/local/share/ca-certificates/custom.bundle
+    exec su -c "REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE=/usr/local/share/ca-certificates/custom.bundle /home/GUEST_USERNAME/trove/contrib/trove-guestagent $TROVE_CONFIG" GUEST_USERNAME
 end script