diff --git a/lib/core/database/database_error_mapper.dart b/lib/core/database/database_error_mapper.dart
index f398253a..6913c674 100644
--- a/lib/core/database/database_error_mapper.dart
+++ b/lib/core/database/database_error_mapper.dart
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ import 'package:querya_desktop/core/security/ssh_tunnel_manager.dart';
 import 'package:querya_desktop/core/storage/connection_secrets_store.dart';
 
 /// Which engine produced an error; only used to tailor the wording.
+/// The hint of the *server requires SSL* error (#1754); the PostgreSQL form
+/// looks for it to offer *Enable SSL and retry*.
+const postgresEnableSslHint = 'Enable SSL in the connection settings and try again';
+
 enum DatabaseDriver { postgres, mysql, sqlite, mongodb, redis, extension }
 
 /// Maps a driver / OS error to a [QueryaDatabaseException].
@@ -96,6 +100,24 @@ QueryaDatabaseException mapDatabaseError(
       originalError: error,
       stackTrace: stackTrace,
     );
+  } else if (lower.contains('pg_hba.conf rejects connection') &&
+      lower.contains('no encryption')) {
+    // `hostssl` only in pg_hba.conf: reads like a wrong password or a blocked
+    // IP, but the fix is the SSL switch (#1754). The server's own line stays in
+    // the message.
+    final line = RegExp(r'pg_hba\.conf rejects connection[^\n]*',
+            caseSensitive: false)
+        .firstMatch(raw)
+        ?.group(0)
+        ?.trim();
+    mapped = TlsFailureException(
+      'The server only accepts encrypted connections'
+      '${line == null ? '' : ' ($line)'}',
+      detailedExplanation: raw,
+      remediationHint: postgresEnableSslHint,
+      originalError: error,
+      stackTrace: stackTrace,
+    );
   } else if (_hasAny(lower, const [
     'password authentication failed',
     'access denied for user',
diff --git a/lib/features/postgresql/postgresql_connection_form.dart b/lib/features/postgresql/postgresql_connection_form.dart
index e1a9fab4..395656bb 100644
--- a/lib/features/postgresql/postgresql_connection_form.dart
+++ b/lib/features/postgresql/postgresql_connection_form.dart
@@ -751,6 +751,19 @@ class _PostgresConnectionFormContentState
                               ),
                             ).small(),
                           ),
+                          if (!_useSSL &&
+                              _testResult!.contains(postgresEnableSslHint)) ...[
+                            QueryaButton.secondary(
+                              label: 'Enable SSL and retry',
+                              size: QueryaControlSize.sm,
+                              onPressed: () {
+                                _dismissResult();
+                                setState(() => _useSSL = true);
+                                unawaited(_testConnection());
+                              },
+                            ),
+                            const Gap(8),
+                          ],
                           QueryaIconButton(
 icon: const material.Icon(material.Icons.close),
 tooltip: 'Dismiss',
diff --git a/test/core/database/database_error_mapper_test.dart b/test/core/database/database_error_mapper_test.dart
index f899ccd7..c50cd5c7 100644
--- a/test/core/database/database_error_mapper_test.dart
+++ b/test/core/database/database_error_mapper_test.dart
@@ -388,4 +388,39 @@ void main() {
       );
     });
   });
+
+  group('a server that wants SSL (#1754)', () {
+    const raw = '28000: pg_hba.conf rejects connection for host "10.10.0.129", '
+        'user "app", database "demo", no encryption';
+
+    test('is told as an SSL problem, with the server line kept', () {
+      final mapped =
+          mapDatabaseError(Exception(raw), driver: DatabaseDriver.postgres);
+
+      expect(mapped, isA<TlsFailureException>());
+      expect(mapped.message, contains('only accepts encrypted connections'));
+      expect(mapped.message, contains('pg_hba.conf rejects connection'));
+      expect(mapped.message, contains('no encryption'));
+      expect(mapped.remediationHint, postgresEnableSslHint);
+      expect(describeDatabaseError(Exception(raw)), contains('Enable SSL'));
+    });
+
+    test('is found inside the wrapped connect error too', () {
+      final wrapped = PostgresConnectionException(
+        'Failed to connect to PostgreSQL (demo): ${describeDatabaseError(Exception(raw))}',
+        cause: Exception(raw),
+      );
+      expect(wrapped.message, contains(postgresEnableSslHint));
+    });
+
+    test('a rejection that is not about missing encryption gets no SSL hint', () {
+      final mapped = mapDatabaseError(
+        Exception('28000: pg_hba.conf rejects connection for host "10.0.0.1", '
+            'user "app", database "demo", SSL encryption'),
+        driver: DatabaseDriver.postgres,
+      );
+      expect(mapped, isNot(isA<TlsFailureException>()));
+      expect(mapped.remediationHint, isNot(postgresEnableSslHint));
+    });
+  });
 }