diff --git a/lib/rustler_precompiled.ex b/lib/rustler_precompiled.ex
index 7392360..ab171d0 100644
--- a/lib/rustler_precompiled.ex
+++ b/lib/rustler_precompiled.ex
@@ -110,7 +110,8 @@ defmodule RustlerPrecompiled do
     * `HTTPS_PROXY` or `https_proxy` - Sets the HTTPS proxy configuration.
 
     * `HEX_CACERTS_PATH` - Sets the path for a custom CA certificates file.
-      If unset, defaults to `CAStore.file_path/0`.
+      If unset, defaults to `:public.cacerts_get/0` (OTP >= 25) if available.
+      In case it's running on an old OTP version, a warning is emitted.
 
     * `MIX_XDG` - If present, sets the OS as `:linux` for the `:filename.basedir/3` when getting
       an user cache dir.
@@ -926,21 +927,17 @@ defmodule RustlerPrecompiled do
       :httpc.set_options([{:https_proxy, {{String.to_charlist(host), port}, []}}])
     end
 
-    # https://erlef.github.io/security-wg/secure_coding_and_deployment_hardening/inets
-    # respects the user provided ca certs via Hex env var
-    cacertfile = System.get_env("HEX_CACERTS_PATH", CAStore.file_path())
-
     http_options = [
-      ssl: [
-        verify: :verify_peer,
-        cacertfile: cacertfile |> String.to_charlist(),
-        # We need to increase depth because the default value is 1.
-        # See: https://erlef.github.io/security-wg/secure_coding_and_deployment_hardening/ssl
-        depth: 3,
-        customize_hostname_check: [
-          match_fun: :public_key.pkix_verify_hostname_match_fun(:https)
-        ]
-      ]
+      ssl:
+        [
+          verify: :verify_peer,
+          # We need to increase depth because the default value is 1.
+          # See: https://erlef.github.io/security-wg/secure_coding_and_deployment_hardening/ssl
+          depth: 3,
+          customize_hostname_check: [
+            match_fun: :public_key.pkix_verify_hostname_match_fun(:https)
+          ]
+        ] ++ cacerts_options()
     ]
 
     options = [body_format: :binary]
@@ -957,6 +954,52 @@ defmodule RustlerPrecompiled do
     end
   end
 
+  # https://erlef.github.io/security-wg/secure_coding_and_deployment_hardening/inets
+  defp cacerts_options do
+    cond do
+      path = System.get_env("HEX_CACERTS_PATH") ->
+        [cacertfile: path]
+
+      certs = otp_cacerts() ->
+        [cacerts: certs]
+
+      true ->
+        warn_no_cacerts()
+        []
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp otp_cacerts do
+    if System.otp_release() >= "25" do
+      # cacerts_get/0 raises if no certs found
+      try do
+        :public_key.cacerts_get()
+      rescue
+        _ -> nil
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  defp warn_no_cacerts do
+    Logger.warning("""
+    No certificate trust store was found.
+
+    A certificate trust store is required in
+    order to download locales for your configuration.
+    Since rustler_precompiled could not detect a system
+    installed certificate trust store one of the
+    following actions may be taken:
+
+    1. Specify the location of a certificate trust store
+       by configuring it in environment variable:
+
+         export HEX_CACERTS_PATH="/path/to/cacerts.pem"
+
+    2. Use OTP 25+ on an OS that has built-in certificate
+       trust store.
+    """)
+  end
+
   # Download a list of files from URLs and calculate its checksum.
   # Returns a list with details of the download and the checksum of each file.
   @doc false
diff --git a/mix.exs b/mix.exs
index 2278004..13f6684 100644
--- a/mix.exs
+++ b/mix.exs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ defmodule RustlerPrecompiled.MixProject do
   defp deps do
     [
       {:rustler, "~> 0.23", optional: true},
-      {:castore, "~> 0.1 or ~> 1.0"},
+      {:castore, "~> 0.1 or ~> 1.0", optional: true},
       {:ex_doc, "~> 0.27", only: :dev},
       {:bypass, "~> 2.1", only: :test}
     ]
diff --git a/mix.lock b/mix.lock
index d285bca..aecedca 100644
--- a/mix.lock
+++ b/mix.lock
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 %{
   "bypass": {:hex, :bypass, "2.1.0", "909782781bf8e20ee86a9cabde36b259d44af8b9f38756173e8f5e2e1fabb9b1", [:mix], [{:plug, "~> 1.7", [hex: :plug, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:plug_cowboy, "~> 2.0", [hex: :plug_cowboy, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:ranch, "~> 1.3", [hex: :ranch, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "d9b5df8fa5b7a6efa08384e9bbecfe4ce61c77d28a4282f79e02f1ef78d96b80"},
-  "castore": {:hex, :castore, "1.0.8", "dedcf20ea746694647f883590b82d9e96014057aff1d44d03ec90f36a5c0dc6e", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "0b2b66d2ee742cb1d9cb8c8be3b43c3a70ee8651f37b75a8b982e036752983f1"},
+  "castore": {:hex, :castore, "1.0.9", "5cc77474afadf02c7c017823f460a17daa7908e991b0cc917febc90e466a375c", [:mix], [], "hexpm", "5ea956504f1ba6f2b4eb707061d8e17870de2bee95fb59d512872c2ef06925e7"},
   "cowboy": {:hex, :cowboy, "2.10.0", "ff9ffeff91dae4ae270dd975642997afe2a1179d94b1887863e43f681a203e26", [:make, :rebar3], [{:cowlib, "2.12.1", [hex: :cowlib, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:ranch, "1.8.0", [hex: :ranch, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "3afdccb7183cc6f143cb14d3cf51fa00e53db9ec80cdcd525482f5e99bc41d6b"},
   "cowboy_telemetry": {:hex, :cowboy_telemetry, "0.4.0", "f239f68b588efa7707abce16a84d0d2acf3a0f50571f8bb7f56a15865aae820c", [:rebar3], [{:cowboy, "~> 2.7", [hex: :cowboy, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}, {:telemetry, "~> 1.0", [hex: :telemetry, repo: "hexpm", optional: false]}], "hexpm", "7d98bac1ee4565d31b62d59f8823dfd8356a169e7fcbb83831b8a5397404c9de"},
   "cowlib": {:hex, :cowlib, "2.12.1", "a9fa9a625f1d2025fe6b462cb865881329b5caff8f1854d1cbc9f9533f00e1e1", [:make, :rebar3], [], "hexpm", "163b73f6367a7341b33c794c4e88e7dbfe6498ac42dcd69ef44c5bc5507c8db0"},