diff --git a/conda_build/environ.py b/conda_build/environ.py
index 4020721475..fdd9e4ed19 100644
--- a/conda_build/environ.py
+++ b/conda_build/environ.py
@@ -413,7 +413,6 @@ def conda_build_vars(prefix, config):
         "SRC_DIR": src_dir,
         "HTTPS_PROXY": os.getenv("HTTPS_PROXY", ""),
         "HTTP_PROXY": os.getenv("HTTP_PROXY", ""),
-        "REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE": os.getenv("REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE", ""),
         "DIRTY": "1" if config.dirty else "",
         "ROOT": context.root_prefix,
     }
@@ -801,6 +800,7 @@ def os_vars(m, prefix):
     get_default("LANG")
     get_default("LC_ALL")
     get_default("MAKEFLAGS")
+    get_default("REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE")
     d["SHLIB_EXT"] = get_shlib_ext(m.config.host_platform)
     d["PATH"] = os.environ.copy()["PATH"]
 
diff --git a/docs/source/user-guide/environment-variables.rst b/docs/source/user-guide/environment-variables.rst
index 849dba7f66..64c9d0d514 100644
--- a/docs/source/user-guide/environment-variables.rst
+++ b/docs/source/user-guide/environment-variables.rst
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ inherited from the shell environment in which you invoke
      - Inherited from your shell environment.
    * - HTTPS_PROXY
      - Inherited from your shell environment.
+   * - REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE
+     - Inherited from your shell environment when set.
+       Omitted when unset so TLS clients do not see an empty CA path.
    * - LANG
      - Inherited from your shell environment.
    * - MAKEFLAGS
diff --git a/news/6063-requests-ca-bundle.md b/news/6063-requests-ca-bundle.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c8e4174c0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/6063-requests-ca-bundle.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+### Enhancements
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Bug fixes
+
+* Only pass through ``REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE`` when it is set in the environment, matching ``SSL_CERT_FILE``. Setting it to an empty string broke TLS clients such as botocore. (#6063 via #6083)
+
+### Deprecations
+
+* <news item>
+
+### Docs
+
+* Document ``REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE`` as an inherited build environment variable. (#6063 via #6083)
+
+### Other
+
+* <news item>