diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
index 5699583..03a82e8 100755
--- a/__init__.py
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def run_phenny(config):
 
    def connect(config): 
       p = bot.Phenny(config)
-      p.run(config.host, config.port)
+      p.run(config.host, config.port, config.ssl)
 
    try: Watcher()
    except Exception, e: 
diff --git a/irc.py b/irc.py
index 42a6fb4..f9e3703 100755
--- a/irc.py
+++ b/irc.py
@@ -64,15 +64,18 @@ class Bot(asynchat.async_chat):
          self.__write(args, text)
       except Exception, e: pass
 
-   def run(self, host, port=6667): 
-      self.initiate_connect(host, port)
+   def run(self, host, port=6667, ssl=False): 
+      self.initiate_connect(host, port, ssl)
 
-   def initiate_connect(self, host, port): 
+   def initiate_connect(self, host, port, ssl): 
       if self.verbose: 
          message = 'Connecting to %s:%s...' % (host, port)
          print >> sys.stderr, message,
       self.create_socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
       self.connect((host, port))
+      if ssl:
+         import ssl
+         self.socket = ssl.wrap_socket(self.socket)
       try: asyncore.loop()
       except KeyboardInterrupt: 
          sys.exit()
diff --git a/phenny b/phenny
index b7bd172..771f630 100755
--- a/phenny
+++ b/phenny
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ def create_default_config(fn):
    print >> f, trim("""\
    nick = 'phenny'
    host = 'irc.example.net'
+   port = 6667
+   ssl = False
    channels = ['#example', '#test']
    owner = 'yournickname'
 
@@ -135,6 +137,9 @@ def main(argv=None):
       if not hasattr(module, 'port'): 
          module.port = 6667
 
+      if not hasattr(module, 'ssl'):
+         module.ssl = False
+
       if not hasattr(module, 'password'): 
          module.password = None