diff --git a/pkg/client/client.go b/pkg/client/client.go
index 0005254..06a2632 100644
--- a/pkg/client/client.go
+++ b/pkg/client/client.go
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"time"
+
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
 )
 
 type Option[T Client] func(client T)
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@ type Option[T Client] func(client T)
 // It also provides functions that work with `collect` data.
 type Client interface {
 	Name() string
-	GetClient() *http.Client
+	GetInternalClient() *http.Client
 	RootEndpoint(endpoint string) string
 
 	// functions needed to make request
@@ -36,11 +38,17 @@ func NewClient[T Client](opts ...func(T)) T {
 }
 
 func WithCertPool[T Client](certPool *x509.CertPool) func(T) {
+	// make sure we have a valid cert pool
 	if certPool == nil {
 		return func(client T) {}
 	}
 	return func(client T) {
-		client.GetClient().Transport = &http.Transport{
+		// make sure that we can access the internal client
+		if client.GetInternalClient() == nil {
+			log.Warn().Msg("internal client is invalid")
+			return
+		}
+		client.GetInternalClient().Transport = &http.Transport{
 			TLSClientConfig: &tls.Config{
 				RootCAs:            certPool,
 				InsecureSkipVerify: true,
diff --git a/pkg/client/smd.go b/pkg/client/smd.go
index a118460..443d445 100644
--- a/pkg/client/smd.go
+++ b/pkg/client/smd.go
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ type SmdClient struct {
 	Xname string
 }
 
+func (c SmdClient) Init() {
+	c.Client = &http.Client{}
+}
+
 func (c SmdClient) Name() string {
 	return "smd"
 }