diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 93c8b03..d89d283 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -75,6 +75,17 @@ Here's a basic example of how to use the `CensusAPI` class to retrieve a table:
 
 ```
 
+> [!TIP]
+> If you encounter SSL verification issues, you can bypass this step by
+> setting the `verify` parameter when creating an instance of `CensusAPI`:
+> ```python
+> api_unverified = CensusAPI(verify=False)
+> ```
+> In general, this is <ins>not recommended</ins> as SSL verification helps
+> ensure the security of your machine and its connection to the internet.
+> Please use this at your own discretion.
+
+
 ## Limitations
 
 The `CensusAPI` class includes a variety of methods to interact with the API in
@@ -99,6 +110,7 @@ query tables containing age data despite being able to create them through the
 web interface. Again, this is a deliberate choice by the developers and may be
 subject to change.
 
+
 ## Contributing
 
 This project is open-source, and contributions from the community are welcome.
diff --git a/src/census21api/wrapper.py b/src/census21api/wrapper.py
index 61bbe4a..446a215 100644
--- a/src/census21api/wrapper.py
+++ b/src/census21api/wrapper.py
@@ -15,7 +15,16 @@
 
 
 class CensusAPI:
-    """A wrapper for the 2021 England and Wales Census API."""
+    """A wrapper for the 2021 England and Wales Census API.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    verify : bool
+        Whether to use SSL verification. Defaults to True.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, verify: bool = True) -> None:
+        self.verify: bool = verify
 
     def _process_response(self, response: Response) -> JSONLike:
         """
@@ -74,7 +83,7 @@ def get(self, url: str) -> JSONLike:
             successful, and `None` otherwise.
         """
 
-        response = requests.get(url, verify=True)
+        response = requests.get(url, verify=self.verify)
 
         return self._process_response(response)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_examples.py b/tests/test_examples.py
index 7ffda04..a807609 100644
--- a/tests/test_examples.py
+++ b/tests/test_examples.py
@@ -6,7 +6,38 @@
 
 
 def test_issue_39_blocked_pairs():
-    """https://github.com/datasciencecampus/census21api/issues/39"""
+    """
+    https://github.com/datasciencecampus/census21api/issues/39
+
+    This test no longer works as is. See
+    `test_issue_39_blocked_pairs_gets_400_error` for an update to this
+    case. However, we keep this test for posterity, and test that it
+    **doesn't** work.
+    """
+
+    population_type = "UR_HH"
+    area_type = "nat"
+    dimensions = ("economic_activity_status_12a", "industry_current_88a")
+
+    api = CensusAPI()
+
+    with pytest.warns(UserWarning) as w:
+        assert "blocked pair" not in w
+        table = api.query_table(population_type, area_type, dimensions)
+
+    assert table is None
+
+
+def test_issue_39_blocked_pairs_gets_400_error():
+    """
+    Originally, this was about catching blocked pairs.
+
+    See https://github.com/datasciencecampus/census21api/issues/39 for
+    details on the original issue.
+
+    As of 2024-02-16, it seems that blocked pairs now give a 400 error.
+    This test now checks for that.
+    """
 
     population_type = "UR_HH"
     area_type = "nat"
@@ -14,7 +45,7 @@ def test_issue_39_blocked_pairs():
 
     api = CensusAPI()
 
-    with pytest.warns(UserWarning, match="blocked pair"):
+    with pytest.warns(UserWarning, match="Status code: 400"):
         table = api.query_table(population_type, area_type, dimensions)
 
     assert table is None
diff --git a/tests/test_wrapper.py b/tests/test_wrapper.py
index 3d9d7c2..70c4fbc 100644
--- a/tests/test_wrapper.py
+++ b/tests/test_wrapper.py
@@ -27,13 +27,14 @@
 MOCK_URL = "mock://test.com/"
 
 
-def test_init():
+@given(st.booleans())
+def test_init(verify: bool):
     """Test that the `CensusAPI` class can be instantiated correctly."""
 
-    api = CensusAPI()
+    api = CensusAPI(verify)
 
     assert isinstance(api, CensusAPI)
-    assert vars(api) == {}
+    assert vars(api) == {"verify": verify}
 
 
 @given(st.dictionaries(st.text(), st.text()))
@@ -91,11 +92,11 @@ def test_process_response_invalid_json():
     assert data is None
 
 
-@given(st.dictionaries(st.text(), st.text()))
-def test_get(json):
+@given(st.dictionaries(st.text(), st.text()), st.booleans())
+def test_get(json, verify: bool):
     """Test that the API only gives data from successful responses."""
 
-    api = CensusAPI()
+    api = CensusAPI(verify)
 
     with mock.patch("census21api.wrapper.requests.get") as get, mock.patch(
         "census21api.wrapper.CensusAPI._process_response"
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ def test_get(json):
 
     assert data == json
 
-    get.assert_called_once_with(MOCK_URL, verify=True)
+    get.assert_called_once_with(MOCK_URL, verify=verify)
     process.assert_called_once_with(response)