diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 04010d5d94..639718a871 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -525,6 +525,7 @@ DOC_SEARCH =
 # server):
 SERVER = localhost
 SERVER_PORT = 9440
+SERVER_URL_SCHEME = http
 
 # Paths on the server to reach catalog content and "collects.tgz",
 # if not the root:
@@ -618,7 +619,7 @@ OSSLSIGNCODE_ARGS_BASE64 =
 
 # URL for a README file to include in an installer (empty for none,
 # spaces allowed):
-README = http://$(SVR_PRT)/README.txt
+README = $(SERVER_URL_SCHEME)://$(SVR_PRT)/README.txt
 
 # URL destination to upload an installer file after it is created
 # (empty for no upload, spaces allowed); the file name is added to the
@@ -656,7 +657,7 @@ DISTRO_BUILD_PKGS = distro-build-lib
 
 SVR_PRT = $(SERVER):$(SERVER_PORT)
 
-SVR_CAT = http://$(SVR_PRT)/$(SERVER_CATALOG_PATH)
+SVR_CAT = $(SERVER_URL_SCHEME)://$(SVR_PRT)/$(SERVER_CATALOG_PATH)
 
 # To configure package installations on the server:
 SERVER_PKG_INSTALL_OPTIONS =
@@ -890,7 +891,7 @@ bundle-from-server:
 	$(USER_RACKET) -l setup/unixstyle-install bundle racket bundle/racket
 	$(USER_RACKET) -l setup/winstrip bundle/racket
 	$(USER_RACKET) -l setup/winvers-change bundle/racket
-	$(USER_RACKET) -l- distro-build/unpack-collects $(UNPACK_COLLECTS_FLAGS) http://$(SVR_PRT)/$(SERVER_COLLECTS_PATH)
+	$(USER_RACKET) -l- distro-build/unpack-collects $(UNPACK_COLLECTS_FLAGS) $(SERVER_URL_SCHEME)://$(SVR_PRT)/$(SERVER_COLLECTS_PATH)
 	$(IN_BUNDLE_RACO) setup --no-user $(JOB_OPTIONS) $(RECOMPILE_OPTIONS)
 	$(IN_BUNDLE_RACO) pkg install $(REMOTE_INST_AUTO) $(PKG_SOURCE_MODE) $(REQUIRED_PKGS)
 	$(IN_BUNDLE_RACO) pkg install $(REMOTE_INST_AUTO) $(PKG_SOURCE_MODE) $(PKGS)
@@ -928,7 +929,7 @@ win32-bundle:
 
 win32-bundle-from-server:
 	$(MAKE) win32-bundle $(COPY_ARGS)
-	$(WIN32_RACKET) -l- distro-build/unpack-collects $(UNPACK_COLLECTS_FLAGS) http://$(SVR_PRT)/$(SERVER_COLLECTS_PATH)
+	$(WIN32_RACKET) -l- distro-build/unpack-collects $(UNPACK_COLLECTS_FLAGS) $(SERVER_URL_SCHEME)://$(SVR_PRT)/$(SERVER_COLLECTS_PATH)
 	$(WIN32_IN_BUNDLE_RACO) setup --no-user -l racket/base
 	$(WIN32_IN_BUNDLE_RACO) pkg install $(REMOTE_INST_AUTO) $(PKG_SOURCE_MODE) $(REQUIRED_PKGS)
 	$(WIN32_IN_BUNDLE_RACO) pkg install $(REMOTE_INST_AUTO) $(PKG_SOURCE_MODE) $(PKGS)
@@ -962,8 +963,8 @@ win32-test-client:
 SITE_PATH =
 
 FROM_SITE_ARGS = SERVER_CATALOG_PATH=$(SITE_PATH)catalog/ SERVER_COLLECTS_PATH=$(SITE_PATH)origin/ \
-                 DIST_CATALOGS_q='http://$(SERVER):$(SERVER_PORT)/$(SITE_PATH)catalog/ ""' \
-                 DOC_SEARCH="http://$(SERVER):$(SERVER_PORT)/$(SITE_PATH)doc/local-redirect/index.html" \
+                 DIST_CATALOGS_q='$(SERVER_URL_SCHEME)://$(SERVER):$(SERVER_PORT)/$(SITE_PATH)catalog/ ""' \
+                 DOC_SEARCH="$(SERVER_URL_SCHEME)://$(SERVER):$(SERVER_PORT)/$(SITE_PATH)doc/local-redirect/index.html" \
                  $(PROP_ARGS)
 
 client-from-site:
diff --git a/build.md b/build.md
index e980a8e85d..41f0f62a1f 100644
--- a/build.md
+++ b/build.md
@@ -679,9 +679,10 @@ If you (or someone else) previously created an installer site with `make
 site`, then `make client-from-site` in a clean repository creates an
 installer for the current platform drawing packages from the site.
 
-At a minimum, provide `SERVER`, `SERVER_PORT` (usually 80), and
-`SITE_PATH` (if not empty, include a trailing `/`) makefile variables to
-access a site at
+At a minimum, provide `SERVER`, `SERVER_PORT` (usually 80 or 443),
+`SERVER_URL_SCHEME` (if `https` instead of `http`) and `SITE_PATH` (if
+not empty, include a trailing `/`) makefile variables to access a site
+at
 
 `http://$(SERVER):$(SERVER_PORT)/$(SITE_PATH)`
 
diff --git a/pkgs/racket-build-guide/distribute.scrbl b/pkgs/racket-build-guide/distribute.scrbl
index cb62bff0b4..a8bd0d22f8 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-build-guide/distribute.scrbl
+++ b/pkgs/racket-build-guide/distribute.scrbl
@@ -383,7 +383,8 @@ If you (or someone else) previously created an installer site with
 repository creates an installer for the current platform drawing
 packages from the site.
 
-At a minimum, provide @exec{SERVER}, @exec{SERVER_PORT} (usually 80),
+At a minimum, provide @exec{SERVER}, @exec{SERVER_PORT} (usually 80 or 443),
+@exec{SERVER_URL_SCHEME} (if @litchar{https} instead of @litchar{http})
 and @exec{SITE_PATH} (if not empty, include a trailing @litchar{/})
 makefile variables to access a site at