diff --git a/samples/vsphere/common/vapiconnect.py b/samples/vsphere/common/vapiconnect.py
index 87380141..7f1c1247 100644
--- a/samples/vsphere/common/vapiconnect.py
+++ b/samples/vsphere/common/vapiconnect.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def get_jsonrpc_endpoint_url(host):
     return "https://{}/api".format(host)
 
 
-def connect(host, user, pwd, skip_verification=False, suppress_warning=True):
+def connect(host, user, pwd, skip_verification=False, cert_path=None, suppress_warning=True):
     """
     Create an authenticated stub configuration object that can be used to issue
     requests against vCenter.
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ def connect(host, user, pwd, skip_verification=False, suppress_warning=True):
     session = requests.Session()
     if skip_verification:
         session = create_unverified_session(session, suppress_warning)
+    elif cert_path:
+        session.verify = cert_path
     connector = get_requests_connector(session=session, url=host_url)
     stub_config = StubConfigurationFactory.new_std_configuration(connector)
 
diff --git a/samples/vsphere/vcenter/vm/list_vms.py b/samples/vsphere/vcenter/vm/list_vms.py
index 65e2b11f..eedec7f3 100644
--- a/samples/vsphere/vcenter/vm/list_vms.py
+++ b/samples/vsphere/vcenter/vm/list_vms.py
@@ -14,10 +14,14 @@
 """
 
 import atexit
+import socket
+import re
 from samples.vsphere.common import vapiconnect
 from samples.vsphere.common.sample_util import parse_cli_args
 from samples.vsphere.common.sample_util import pp
 from com.vmware.vcenter_client import VM
+from samples.vsphere.common.sample_cli import build_arg_parser
+from samples.vsphere.common.sample_util import process_cli_args
 
 """
 Demonstrates getting list of VMs present in vCenter
@@ -30,10 +34,31 @@ cleardata = False
 
 
 def setup(context=None):
-    global stub_config, cleardata
-    server, username, password, cleardata, skip_verification = parse_cli_args()
+    global stub_config, cleardata, cert_path
+    parser = build_arg_parser()
+    parser.add_argument('-cpath', '--cert_path',
+                        action='store',
+                        help='Verify vCenter Server certificate')
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    server, username, password, cleardata, skip_verification = process_cli_args(args)
+
+    # Check if either of skipverification or cert_path is passed as an argument
+    cert_path = None
+    if args.cert_path:
+        if re.match('\d+[.]\d+[.]\d+[.]\d+', server):
+            try:
+                server = socket.gethostbyaddr(server)[0]
+            except Exception as e:
+                print("SERVER IS NOT REACHABLE {}".format(e))
+        cert_path = args.cert_path
+    if not skip_verification and not cert_path:
+        raise Exception("skipverification or cert_path required")
+    print("cert_path = {}".format(cert_path))
+
+    # Connect to VAPI
     stub_config = vapiconnect.connect(server, username, password,
-                                      skip_verification)
+                                      skip_verification, cert_path=cert_path)
     atexit.register(vapiconnect.logout, stub_config)