diff --git a/History.md b/History.md
index 6d133be..3106d57 100644
--- a/History.md
+++ b/History.md
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 0.6.x
 =====
 
+  * Add `secure` constructor option for secure connection checking
   * Change constructor to signature `new Cookies(req, res, [options])`
     - Replace `new Cookies(req, res, key)` with `new Cookies(req, res, {'keys': keys})`
   * Change prototype construction for proper "constructor" property
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bd2e22b..39149dd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ This creates a cookie jar corresponding to the current _request_ and _response_,
 
 A [Keygrip](https://www.npmjs.com/package/keygrip) object or an array of keys can optionally be passed as _options.keys_ to enable cryptographic signing based on SHA1 HMAC, using rotated credentials.
 
+A Boolean can optionally be passed as _options.secure_ to explicitally specify if the connection is secure, rather than this module exaiming _request_.
+
 Note that since this only saves parameters without any other processing, it is very lightweight. Cookies are only parsed on demand when they are accessed.
 
 ### express.createServer( Cookies.express( keys ) )
diff --git a/lib/cookies.js b/lib/cookies.js
index ec97e7a..15a64e7 100644
--- a/lib/cookies.js
+++ b/lib/cookies.js
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ var fieldContentRegExp = /^[\u0009\u0020-\u007e\u0080-\u00ff]+$/;
 function Cookies(request, response, options) {
   if (!(this instanceof Cookies)) return new Cookies(request, response, options)
 
+  this.secure = undefined
   this.request = request
   this.response = response
 
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ function Cookies(request, response, options) {
       this.keys = options
     } else {
       this.keys = options.keys
+      this.secure = options.secure
     }
   }
 }
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@ Cookies.prototype.set = function(name, value, opts) {
   var res = this.response
     , req = this.request
     , headers = res.getHeader("Set-Cookie") || []
-    , secure = req.protocol === 'https' || req.connection.encrypted
+    , secure = this.secure !== undefined ? !!this.secure : req.protocol === 'https' || req.connection.encrypted
     , cookie = new Cookie(name, value, opts)
     , signed = opts && opts.signed !== undefined ? opts.signed : !!this.keys
 
diff --git a/test/http.js b/test/http.js
index 4f4ed1a..38fcd44 100644
--- a/test/http.js
+++ b/test/http.js
@@ -82,4 +82,46 @@ describe('HTTP', function () {
     .set('Cookie', header.join(';'))
     .expect(200, done)
   })
+
+  describe('with "secure" option', function () {
+    it('should check connection when undefined; unencrypted', function (done) {
+      request(createServer( "http", { "keys": keys } ))
+      .get('/')
+      .expect(500, 'Cannot send secure cookie over unencrypted connection', done)
+    })
+
+    it('should check connection when undefined; encrypted', function (done) {
+      request(createServer( "https", { "keys": keys } ))
+      .get('/')
+      .expect(200, done)
+    })
+
+    it('should not check connection when defined; true', function (done) {
+      request(createServer( "http", { "keys": keys, "secure": true } ))
+      .get('/')
+      .expect(200, done)
+    })
+
+    it('should not check connection when defined; false', function (done) {
+      request(createServer( "https", { "keys": keys, "secure": false } ))
+      .get('/')
+      .expect(500, 'Cannot send secure cookie over unencrypted connection', done)
+    })
+  })
 })
+
+function createServer(proto, opts) {
+  return http.createServer(function (req, res) {
+    var cookies = new Cookies( req, res, opts )
+    req.protocol = proto
+
+    try {
+      cookies.set( "foo", "bar", { "secure": true } )
+    } catch (e) {
+      res.statusCode = 500
+      res.write(e.message)
+    }
+
+    res.end()
+  })
+}