diff --git a/binding.js b/binding.js
index 18cf50e4..ee613bd3 100644
--- a/binding.js
+++ b/binding.js
@@ -98,11 +98,11 @@ module.exports.download_vips = function () {
           } catch (err) {}
         });
       });
-      const gotOpt = {};
-      if (process.env.npm_config_https_proxy) {
-        // Use the NPM-configured HTTPS proxy
-        gotOpt.agent = caw(process.env.npm_config_https_proxy);
-      }
+      const gotOpt = {
+        agent: caw(null, {
+          protocol: 'https'
+        })
+      };
       const url = distBaseUrl + tarFilename;
       got.stream(url, gotOpt).on('response', function (response) {
         if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index d11681ed..ee0e785b 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ Requires libvips v8.4.2.
 * Simplify expression for finding vips-cpp libdir.
   [#656](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/pull/656)
 
+* Allow HTTP-over-HTTPS proxy when downloading pre-compiled dependencies.
+  [@wangzhiwei1888](https://github.com/wangzhiwei1888)
+  [#679](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/679)
+
 #### v0.17.0 - 11<sup>th</sup> December 2016
 
 * Drop support for versions of Node prior to v4.