diff --git a/lib/recognize-stream.ts b/lib/recognize-stream.ts
index 9159edb259..63cd1708a8 100644
--- a/lib/recognize-stream.ts
+++ b/lib/recognize-stream.ts
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ class RecognizeStream extends Duplex {
    * @param {string} [options.base_model_version] - The version of the specified base model that is to be used with recognition request or, for the **Create a session** method, with the new session.
    * Multiple versions of a base model can exist when a model is updated for internal improvements. The parameter is intended primarily for use with custom models that have been upgraded for a new base model.
    * The default value depends on whether the parameter is used with or without a custom model. For more information, see [Base model version](https://console.bluemix.net/docs/services/speech-to-text/input.html#version).
+   * @param {Boolean} [options.rejectUnauthorized] - If true, disable SSL verification for the WebSocket connection
    *
    * @constructor
    */
@@ -133,8 +134,15 @@ class RecognizeStream extends Duplex {
     this.listening = false;
     this.initialized = false;
     this.finished = false;
+
     // is using iam, another authentication step is needed
     this.authenticated = options.token_manager ? false : true;
+
+    // build the last argument for the websocket constructor (clientConfig name comes from `websocket` docs)
+    // `tlsOptions` gets passed to Node's `http` library, which allows us to pass a rejectUnauthorized option
+    // for disabling SSL verification (for ICP)
+    const clientConfig = this.rejectUnauthorized ? { tlsOptions: { rejectUnauthorized: false }} : null;
+
     this.on('newListener', event => {
       if (!options.silent) {
         if (
@@ -225,11 +233,7 @@ class RecognizeStream extends Duplex {
       null,
       options.headers,
       null,
-      {
-        tlsOptions: {
-          rejectUnauthorized: false,
-        }
-      },
+      clientConfig
     ));
 
     // when the input stops, let the service know that we're done
diff --git a/speech-to-text/v1.ts b/speech-to-text/v1.ts
index a8ef69c7e8..cc1bbfbfd0 100644
--- a/speech-to-text/v1.ts
+++ b/speech-to-text/v1.ts
@@ -477,6 +477,9 @@ class SpeechToTextV1 extends GeneratedSpeechToTextV1 {
       params.headers
     );
 
+    // allow user to disable ssl verification when using websockets
+    params.rejectUnauthorized = this._options.rejectUnauthorized;
+
     return new RecognizeStream(params);
   }