diff --git a/python/python/tests/test_import.py b/python/python/tests/test_import.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4b87a0ce8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/python/tests/test_import.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors
+
+import re
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+import sys
+
+import lancedb._lancedb as _lancedb
+import pytest
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(sys.platform != "linux", reason="ldd is Linux-specific")
+def test_native_extension_does_not_link_openssl():
+    """OpenSSL-linked wheels abort when imported on RHEL hosts in FIPS mode."""
+    ldd = shutil.which("ldd")
+    if ldd is None:
+        pytest.skip("ldd is not installed")
+
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        [ldd, _lancedb.__file__],
+        check=True,
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+    )
+    openssl_libraries = re.findall(
+        r"^\s*(lib(?:crypto|ssl)\S*)\s+=>", result.stdout, flags=re.MULTILINE
+    )
+
+    assert not openssl_libraries, (
+        "the LanceDB native extension must use rustls instead of linking OpenSSL: "
+        f"{openssl_libraries}"
+    )
diff --git a/rust/lancedb/Cargo.toml b/rust/lancedb/Cargo.toml
index 66db3cf12..816f095de 100644
--- a/rust/lancedb/Cargo.toml
+++ b/rust/lancedb/Cargo.toml
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ reqwest = { version = "0.12.0", default-features = false, features = [
     "http2",
     "json",
     "macos-system-configuration",
+    # Avoid linking OpenSSL into Python wheels, which breaks on FIPS hosts.
+    "rustls-tls-native-roots",
     "stream",
 ], optional = true }
 http = { version = "1", optional = true } # Matching what is in reqwest