diff --git a/tests/integration/test_boto3.py b/tests/integration/test_boto3.py
index b1e9dd2..1e418e7 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_boto3.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_boto3.py
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ import botocore  # NOQA
 import vcr  # NOQA
 
 ses = boto3.Session(
-    aws_access_key_id=os.environ['AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID'],
-    aws_secret_access_key=os.environ['AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY'],
+    aws_access_key_id=os.environ.get('AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID', "default"),
+    aws_secret_access_key=os.environ.get('AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY', "default"),
     aws_session_token=None,
-    region_name=os.environ['AWS_DEFAULT_REGION'],
+    region_name=os.environ.get('AWS_DEFAULT_REGION', "default"),
     # botocore_session=None,
     # profile_name=None
 )
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@ def test_boto_medium_difficulty(tmpdir):
 def test_boto_hardcore_mode(tmpdir):
     with vcr.use_cassette(str(tmpdir.join('boto3-hardcore.yml'))):
         ses = boto3.Session(
-            aws_access_key_id=os.environ['AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID'],
-            aws_secret_access_key=os.environ['AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY'],
-            region_name=os.environ['AWS_DEFAULT_REGION'],
+            aws_access_key_id=os.environ.get('AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID'),
+            aws_secret_access_key=os.environ.get('AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY'),
+            region_name=os.environ.get('AWS_DEFAULT_REGION'),
         )
 
         iam_client = ses.client('iam')
@@ -98,10 +98,10 @@ def test_boto_hardcore_mode(tmpdir):
 
     with vcr.use_cassette(str(tmpdir.join('boto3-hardcore.yml'))) as cass:
         ses = boto3.Session(
-            aws_access_key_id=os.environ['AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID'],
-            aws_secret_access_key=os.environ['AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY'],
+            aws_access_key_id=os.environ.get('AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID'),
+            aws_secret_access_key=os.environ.get('AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY'),
             aws_session_token=None,
-            region_name=os.environ['AWS_DEFAULT_REGION'],
+            region_name=os.environ.get('AWS_DEFAULT_REGION'),
         )
 
         iam_client = ses.client('iam')
diff --git a/vcr/stubs/boto3_stubs.py b/vcr/stubs/boto3_stubs.py
index 80a03f9..d83fac2 100644
--- a/vcr/stubs/boto3_stubs.py
+++ b/vcr/stubs/boto3_stubs.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 """Stubs for boto3"""
+import six
 
 try:
     # boto using awsrequest
@@ -23,3 +24,21 @@ class VCRRequestsHTTPConnection(VCRHTTPConnection, HTTPConnection):
 
 class VCRRequestsHTTPSConnection(VCRHTTPSConnection, VerifiedHTTPSConnection):
     _baseclass = VerifiedHTTPSConnection
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        if six.PY3:
+            kwargs.pop('strict', None)  # apparently this is gone in py3
+
+        # need to temporarily reset here because the real connection
+        # inherits from the thing that we are mocking out.  Take out
+        # the reset if you want to see what I mean :)
+        from vcr.patch import force_reset
+        with force_reset():
+            self.real_connection = self._baseclass(*args, **kwargs)
+            # Make sure to set those attributes as it seems `AWSHTTPConnection` does not
+            # set them, making the connection to fail !
+            self.real_connection.assert_hostname = kwargs.get("assert_hostname", False)
+            self.real_connection.cert_reqs = kwargs.get("cert_reqs", 'CERT_NONE')
+
+        self._sock = None
+