diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
index cb0d124a..58302d60 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-package.yml
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: "3.11"
 
-      - name: Update pip
-        run: pip install -U pip
-
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: pip install flake8
 
@@ -47,9 +44,6 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
 
-      - name: Update pip
-        run: pip install -U pip
-
       - name: Install smart_open without dependencies
         run: pip install -e .
 
@@ -90,9 +84,6 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
 
-      - name: Update pip
-        run: pip install -U pip
-
       - name: Install smart_open and its dependencies
         run: pip install -e .[test]
 
@@ -128,9 +119,6 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
 
-      - name: Update pip
-        run: pip install -U pip
-
       - name: Install smart_open and its dependencies
         run: pip install -e .[test]
 
@@ -178,9 +166,6 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
 
-      - name: Update pip
-        run: pip install -U pip
-
       - name: Install smart_open and its dependencies
         run: pip install -e .[test]
 
diff --git a/smart_open/http.py b/smart_open/http.py
index 438ae0f4..5e5b8140 100644
--- a/smart_open/http.py
+++ b/smart_open/http.py
@@ -122,14 +122,7 @@ def __init__(self, url, mode='r', buffer_size=DEFAULT_BUFFER_SIZE,
 
         self.timeout = timeout
 
-        self.response = session.get(
-            url,
-            auth=auth,
-            cert=cert,
-            stream=True,
-            headers=self.headers,
-            timeout=self.timeout,
-        ) if session is not None else requests.get(
+        self.response = self.session.get(
             url,
             auth=auth,
             cert=cert,