diff --git a/brainscore_vision/models/scaling_models/model.py b/brainscore_vision/models/scaling_models/model.py
index ab63520a4..c7a470e6e 100644
--- a/brainscore_vision/models/scaling_models/model.py
+++ b/brainscore_vision/models/scaling_models/model.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import functools
 import json
 from pathlib import Path
+import ssl
 
 import torchvision.models
 import torch
@@ -17,6 +18,9 @@
 import albumentations as A
 from albumentations.pytorch import ToTensorV2
 
+# Disable SSL verification 
+ssl._create_default_https_context = ssl._create_unverified_context
+
 BIBTEX = """"""