diff --git a/nse_main.lua b/nse_main.lua
index 14d3722f7..7a6cc74ad 100644
--- a/nse_main.lua
+++ b/nse_main.lua
@@ -212,8 +212,7 @@ local function tcopy (t)
 end
 
 local REQUIRE_ERROR = {};
-stdnse.require = require; -- add real require to stdnse so it can be called if desired
-function _G.require (...)
+rawset(stdnse, "silent_require", function (...)
   local status, mod = pcall(require, ...);
   if not status then
     print_debug(1, "%s", traceback(mod));
@@ -222,7 +221,7 @@ function _G.require (...)
   else
     return mod;
   end
-end
+end);
 
 local Script = {}; -- The Script Class, its constructor is Script.new.
 local Thread = {}; -- The Thread Class, its constructor is Script:new_thread.
diff --git a/nselib/stdnse.lua b/nselib/stdnse.lua
index 5ffcd7bfb..a57809d73 100644
--- a/nselib/stdnse.lua
+++ b/nselib/stdnse.lua
@@ -869,13 +869,15 @@ do end -- no function here, see nse_main.lua
 --@return coroutine Returns the base coroutine of the running script.
 do end -- no function here, see nse_main.lua
 
---- The (Unmodified) Lua Require Function.
+--- The Lua Require Function with errors silenced.
 --
--- See the Lua manual for description. NSE replaces the standard function
--- in the global namespace to improve error handling.
+-- See the Lua manual for description of the require function. This modified
+-- version allows the script to quietly fail at loading if a required
+-- library does not exist.
 --
---@name require
+--@name silent_require
 --@class function
+--@usage stdnse.silent_require "openssl"
 do end -- no function here, see nse_main.lua
 
 
diff --git a/scripts/http-cakephp-version.nse b/scripts/http-cakephp-version.nse
index b47d198be..aa7a7001b 100644
--- a/scripts/http-cakephp-version.nse
+++ b/scripts/http-cakephp-version.nse
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ categories = {"discovery","safe"}
 
 require "http"
 require "shortport"
+require "stdnse"
+stdnse.silent_require "openssl"
 
 portrule = shortport.http
 
diff --git a/scripts/http-favicon.nse b/scripts/http-favicon.nse
index 2cb312d5f..8da00e39b 100644
--- a/scripts/http-favicon.nse
+++ b/scripts/http-favicon.nse
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ require "http"
 require "stdnse"
 require "datafiles"
 require "nsedebug"
-require "openssl"
+require "stdnse"
+stdnse.silent_require "openssl"
 
 portrule = shortport.http
 
diff --git a/scripts/http-php-version.nse b/scripts/http-php-version.nse
index 6e5b5e813..6accf4932 100644
--- a/scripts/http-php-version.nse
+++ b/scripts/http-php-version.nse
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ categories = {"discovery", "safe"}
 
 require "http"
 require "shortport"
+require "stdnse"
+stdnse.silent_require "openssl"
 
 portrule = shortport.http
 
diff --git a/scripts/mysql-brute.nse b/scripts/mysql-brute.nse
index 66c2aae74..be7ddf1e2 100644
--- a/scripts/mysql-brute.nse
+++ b/scripts/mysql-brute.nse
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ require 'shortport'
 require 'stdnse'
 require 'mysql'
 require 'unpwdb'
-require 'openssl'
+stdnse.silent_require 'openssl'
 
 -- Version 0.3
 -- Created 01/15/2010 - v0.1 - created by Patrik Karlsson <patrik@cqure.net>
diff --git a/scripts/mysql-databases.nse b/scripts/mysql-databases.nse
index d82bc5e48..503686038 100644
--- a/scripts/mysql-databases.nse
+++ b/scripts/mysql-databases.nse
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ categories = {"discovery", "intrusive"}
 require 'shortport'
 require 'stdnse'
 require 'mysql'
-require 'openssl'
+stdnse.silent_require 'openssl'
 
 dependencies = {"mysql-brute", "mysql-empty-password"}
 
diff --git a/scripts/mysql-users.nse b/scripts/mysql-users.nse
index 43a51f891..e96f9494d 100644
--- a/scripts/mysql-users.nse
+++ b/scripts/mysql-users.nse
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ categories = {"discovery", "intrusive"}
 require 'shortport'
 require 'stdnse'
 require 'mysql'
-require 'openssl'
+stdnse.silent_require 'openssl'
 
 dependencies = {"mysql-brute", "mysql-empty-password"}
 
diff --git a/scripts/mysql-variables.nse b/scripts/mysql-variables.nse
index 837cde2c7..8420d6acc 100644
--- a/scripts/mysql-variables.nse
+++ b/scripts/mysql-variables.nse
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ categories = {"discovery", "intrusive"}
 require 'shortport'
 require 'stdnse'
 require 'mysql'
-require 'openssl'
+stdnse.silent_require 'openssl'
 
 dependencies = {"mysql-brute", "mysql-empty-password"}
 
diff --git a/scripts/oracle-brute.nse b/scripts/oracle-brute.nse
index e8d8a299a..0af677158 100644
--- a/scripts/oracle-brute.nse
+++ b/scripts/oracle-brute.nse
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ categories = {"intrusive", "auth"}
 
 require 'shortport'
 require 'brute'
-require 'openssl'
+require 'stdnse'
+stdnse.silent_require 'openssl'
 require 'tns'
 
 portrule = shortport.port_or_service(1521, "oracle-tns", "tcp", "open")
diff --git a/scripts/oracle-enum-users.nse b/scripts/oracle-enum-users.nse
index eaee6dc3c..052258973 100644
--- a/scripts/oracle-enum-users.nse
+++ b/scripts/oracle-enum-users.nse
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ categories = {"intrusive", "auth"}
 
 require 'shortport'
 require 'unpwdb'
-require 'openssl'
+require 'stdnse'
+stdnse.silent_require 'openssl'
 require 'tns'
 
 portrule = shortport.port_or_service(1521, 'oracle-tns' )
diff --git a/scripts/pgsql-brute.nse b/scripts/pgsql-brute.nse
index 0f80e73e0..eefe7ff9f 100644
--- a/scripts/pgsql-brute.nse
+++ b/scripts/pgsql-brute.nse
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ categories = {"intrusive", "auth"}
 require 'shortport'
 require 'stdnse'
 require 'unpwdb'
-require 'openssl'
+stdnse.silent_require 'openssl'
 
 -- Version 0.3
 -- Created 01/15/2010 - v0.1 - created by Patrik Karlsson <patrik@cqure.net>
diff --git a/scripts/ssh-hostkey.nse b/scripts/ssh-hostkey.nse
index 43f4f8b75..3f97759f4 100644
--- a/scripts/ssh-hostkey.nse
+++ b/scripts/ssh-hostkey.nse
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ categories = {"safe","default","discovery"}
 
 require("shortport")
 require("stdnse")
-require("openssl")
+stdnse.silent_require("openssl")
 require("ssh1")
 require("ssh2")
 
diff --git a/scripts/ssh2-enum-algos.nse b/scripts/ssh2-enum-algos.nse
index 2a0bb08f9..6cb8641a9 100644
--- a/scripts/ssh2-enum-algos.nse
+++ b/scripts/ssh2-enum-algos.nse
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ categories = {"safe", "discovery"}
 
 require "shortport"
 require "stdnse"
-require "openssl"
+stdnse.silent_require "openssl"
 
 portrule = shortport.port_or_service(22, "ssh")