diff --git a/libhttp/http.h b/libhttp/http.h
index 3b79771..9bd2bf6 100644
--- a/libhttp/http.h
+++ b/libhttp/http.h
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ int  serverSupportsSSL();
 void serverEnableSSL(Server *server, int flag);
 void serverSetCertificate(Server *server, const char *filename,
                           int autoGenerateMissing);
+void serverSetCertificateFd(Server *server, int fd);
 void serverSetNumericHosts(Server *server, int numericHosts);
 
 void httpTransfer(HttpConnection *http, char *msg, int len);
diff --git a/libhttp/libhttp.sym b/libhttp/libhttp.sym
index cdc79b4..afa641d 100644
--- a/libhttp/libhttp.sym
+++ b/libhttp/libhttp.sym
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ serverLoop
 serverSupportsSSL
 serverEnableSSL
 serverSetCertificate
+serverSetCertificateFd
 serverSetNumericHosts
 httpTransfer
 httpTransferPartialReply
diff --git a/libhttp/server.c b/libhttp/server.c
index a33ec07..d1e5486 100644
--- a/libhttp/server.c
+++ b/libhttp/server.c
@@ -537,6 +537,10 @@ void serverSetCertificate(struct Server *server, const char *filename,
   sslSetCertificate(&server->ssl, filename, autoGenerateMissing);
 }
 
+void serverSetCertificateFd(struct Server *server, int fd) {
+  sslSetCertificateFd(&server->ssl, fd);
+}
+
 void serverSetNumericHosts(struct Server *server, int numericHosts) {
   server->numericHosts = numericHosts;
 }
diff --git a/libhttp/server.h b/libhttp/server.h
index 38db472..98da282 100644
--- a/libhttp/server.h
+++ b/libhttp/server.h
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ void serverLoop(struct Server *server);
 void serverEnableSSL(struct Server *server, int flag);
 void serverSetCertificate(struct Server *server, const char *filename,
                           int autoGenerateMissing);
+void serverSetCertificateFd(struct Server *server, int fd);
 void serverSetNumericHosts(struct Server *server, int numericHosts);
 struct Trie *serverGetHttpHandlers(struct Server *server);
 
diff --git a/libhttp/ssl.c b/libhttp/ssl.c
index 0b9ebbf..61a1d0c 100644
--- a/libhttp/ssl.c
+++ b/libhttp/ssl.c
@@ -90,7 +90,11 @@ long          (*SSL_CTX_ctrl)(SSL_CTX *, int, long, void *);
 void          (*SSL_CTX_free)(SSL_CTX *);
 SSL_CTX *     (*SSL_CTX_new)(SSL_METHOD *);
 int           (*SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_file)(SSL_CTX *, const char *, int);
+int           (*SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_ASN1)(int, SSL_CTX *,
+                                             const unsigned char *, long);
 int           (*SSL_CTX_use_certificate_file)(SSL_CTX *, const char *, int);
+int           (*SSL_CTX_use_certificate_ASN1)(SSL_CTX *, long,
+                                              const unsigned char *);
 long          (*SSL_ctrl)(SSL *, int, long, void *);
 void          (*SSL_free)(SSL *);
 int           (*SSL_get_error)(const SSL *, int);
@@ -200,7 +204,9 @@ static void loadSSL(void) {
     { { &SSL_CTX_free },                "SSL_CTX_free" },
     { { &SSL_CTX_new },                 "SSL_CTX_new" },
     { { &SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_file }, "SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_file" },
+    { { &SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_ASN1 }, "SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_ASN1" },
     { { &SSL_CTX_use_certificate_file },"SSL_CTX_use_certificate_file"},
+    { { &SSL_CTX_use_certificate_ASN1 },"SSL_CTX_use_certificate_ASN1"},
     { { &SSL_ctrl },                    "SSL_ctrl" },
     { { &SSL_free },                    "SSL_free" },
     { { &SSL_get_error },               "SSL_get_error" },
@@ -419,6 +425,156 @@ void sslSetCertificate(struct SSLSupport *ssl, const char *filename,
 #endif
 }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_OPENSSL
+static const unsigned char *sslSecureReadASCIIFileToMem(int fd) {
+  size_t inc          = 16384;
+  size_t bufSize      = inc;
+  size_t len          = 0;
+  unsigned char *buf;
+  check((buf          = malloc(bufSize)) != NULL);
+  for (;;) {
+    check(len < bufSize - 1);
+    size_t  readLen   = bufSize - len - 1;
+    ssize_t bytesRead = NOINTR(read(fd, buf + len, readLen));
+    if (bytesRead > 0) {
+      len            += bytesRead;
+    }
+    if (bytesRead != readLen) {
+      break;
+    }
+
+    // Instead of calling realloc(), allocate a new buffer, copy the data,
+    // and then clear the old buffer. This way, we are not accidentally
+    // leaving key material in memory.
+    unsigned char *newBuf;
+    check((newBuf     = malloc(bufSize + inc)) != NULL);
+    memcpy(newBuf, buf, len);
+    memset(buf, 0, bufSize);
+    free(buf);
+    buf               = newBuf;
+    bufSize          += inc;
+  }
+  check(len < bufSize);
+  buf[len]            = '\000';
+  return buf;
+}
+
+static const unsigned char *sslPEMtoASN1(const unsigned char *pem,
+                                         const char *record,
+                                         long *size) {
+  *size              = -1;
+  char *marker;
+  check((marker      = stringPrintf(NULL, "-----BEGIN %s-----",record))!=NULL);
+  unsigned char *ptr = (unsigned char *)strstr((char *)pem, marker);
+  if (!ptr) {
+    free(marker);
+    return NULL;
+  } else {
+    ptr             += strlen(marker);
+  }
+  *marker            = '\000';
+  check((marker      = stringPrintf(marker, "-----END %s-----",record))!=NULL);
+  unsigned char *end = (unsigned char *)strstr((char *)ptr, marker);
+  free(marker);
+  if (!end) {
+    return NULL;
+  }
+  unsigned char *ret;
+  size_t maxSize     = (((end - ptr)*6)+7)/8;
+  check((ret         = malloc(maxSize)) != NULL);
+  unsigned char *out = ret;
+  unsigned bits      = 0;
+  int count          = 0;
+  while (ptr < end) {
+    unsigned char ch = *ptr++;
+    if (ch >= 'A' && ch <= 'Z') {
+      ch            -= 'A';
+    } else if (ch >= 'a' && ch <= 'z') {
+      ch            -= 'a' - 26;
+    } else if (ch >= '0' && ch <= '9') {
+      ch            += 52 - '0';
+    } else if (ch == '+') {
+      ch            += 62 - '+';
+    } else if (ch == '/') {
+      ch            += 63 - '/';
+    } else if (ch == '=') {
+      while (ptr < end) {
+        if ((ch      = *ptr++) != '=' && ch > ' ') {
+          goto err;
+        }
+      }
+      break;
+    } else if (ch <= ' ') {
+      continue;
+    } else {
+   err:
+      free(ret);
+      return NULL;
+    }
+    check(ch <= 63);
+    check(count >= 0);
+    check(count <= 6);
+    bits             = (bits << 6) | ch;
+    count           += 6;
+    if (count >= 8) {
+      *out++         = (bits >> (count -= 8)) & 0xFF;
+    }
+  }
+  check(out - ret <= maxSize);
+  *size              = out - ret;
+  return ret;
+}
+#endif
+
+void sslSetCertificateFd(struct SSLSupport *ssl, int fd) {
+#ifdef HAVE_OPENSSL
+  check(serverSupportsSSL());
+  check(fd >= 0);
+  check(ssl->sslContext     = SSL_CTX_new(SSLv23_server_method()));
+  const unsigned char *data = sslSecureReadASCIIFileToMem(fd);
+  check(!NOINTR(close(fd)));
+  long dataSize             = (long)strlen((const char *)data);
+  long certSize, rsaSize, dsaSize, ecSize;
+  const unsigned char *cert = sslPEMtoASN1(data, "CERTIFICATE", &certSize);
+  const unsigned char *rsa  = sslPEMtoASN1(data, "RSA PRIVATE KEY", &rsaSize);
+  const unsigned char *dsa  = sslPEMtoASN1(data, "DSA PRIVATE KEY", &dsaSize);
+  const unsigned char *ec   = sslPEMtoASN1(data, "EC PRIVATE KEY",  &ecSize);
+  if (!certSize || !(rsaSize > 0 || dsaSize > 0 || ecSize > 0) ||
+      !SSL_CTX_use_certificate_ASN1(ssl->sslContext, certSize, cert) ||
+      (rsaSize > 0 &&
+       !SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_ASN1(EVP_PKEY_RSA, ssl->sslContext, rsa,
+                                    rsaSize)) ||
+      (dsaSize > 0 &&
+       !SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_ASN1(EVP_PKEY_DSA, ssl->sslContext, dsa,
+                                    dsaSize)) ||
+      (ecSize > 0 &&
+       !SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_ASN1(EVP_PKEY_EC, ssl->sslContext, ec,
+                                    ecSize)) ||
+      !SSL_CTX_check_private_key(ssl->sslContext)) {
+    fatal("Cannot read valid certificate from fd %d. Check file format.", fd);
+  }
+  dcheck(!ERR_peek_error());
+  ERR_clear_error();
+  memset((char *)data, 0, dataSize);
+  free((char *)data);
+  memset((char *)cert, 0, certSize);
+  free((char *)cert);
+  if (rsaSize > 0) {
+    memset((char *)rsa, 0, rsaSize);
+    free((char *)rsa);
+  }
+  if (dsaSize > 0) {
+    memset((char *)dsa, 0, dsaSize);
+    free((char *)dsa);
+  }
+  if (ecSize > 0) {
+    memset((char *)ec, 0, ecSize);
+    free((char *)ec);
+  }
+  ssl->generateMissing     = 0;
+#endif
+}
+
 int sslEnable(struct SSLSupport *ssl, int enabled) {
   int old      = ssl->enabled;
   ssl->enabled = enabled;
diff --git a/libhttp/ssl.h b/libhttp/ssl.h
index 240b9b2..e273a65 100644
--- a/libhttp/ssl.h
+++ b/libhttp/ssl.h
@@ -83,7 +83,11 @@ extern long    (*x_SSL_CTX_ctrl)(SSL_CTX *, int, long, void *);
 extern void    (*x_SSL_CTX_free)(SSL_CTX *);
 extern SSL_CTX*(*x_SSL_CTX_new)(SSL_METHOD *);
 extern int     (*x_SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_file)(SSL_CTX *, const char *, int);
+extern int     (*x_SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_ASN1)(int, SSL_CTX *,
+                                                const unsigned char *, long);
 extern int     (*x_SSL_CTX_use_certificate_file)(SSL_CTX *, const char *, int);
+extern int     (*x_SSL_CTX_use_certificate_ASN1)(SSL_CTX *, long,
+                                                 const unsigned char *);
 extern long    (*x_SSL_ctrl)(SSL *, int, long, void *);
 extern void    (*x_SSL_free)(SSL *);
 extern int     (*x_SSL_get_error)(const SSL *, int);
@@ -119,7 +123,9 @@ extern SSL_METHOD *(*x_SSLv23_server_method)(void);
 #define SSL_CTX_free                 x_SSL_CTX_free
 #define SSL_CTX_new                  x_SSL_CTX_new
 #define SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_file  x_SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_file
+#define SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_ASN1  x_SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_ASN1
 #define SSL_CTX_use_certificate_file x_SSL_CTX_use_certificate_file
+#define SSL_CTX_use_certificate_ASN1 x_SSL_CTX_use_certificate_ASN1
 #define SSL_ctrl                     x_SSL_ctrl
 #define SSL_free                     x_SSL_free
 #define SSL_get_error                x_SSL_get_error
@@ -175,6 +181,7 @@ void deleteSSL(struct SSLSupport *ssl);
 void sslGenerateCertificate(const char *certificate, const char *serverName);
 void sslSetCertificate(struct SSLSupport *ssl, const char *filename,
                        int autoGenerateMissing);
+void sslSetCertificateFd(struct SSLSupport *ssl, int fd);
 int  sslEnable(struct SSLSupport *ssl, int enabled);
 void sslBlockSigPipe();
 int  sslUnblockSigPipe();
diff --git a/shellinabox/launcher.c b/shellinabox/launcher.c
index 340db01..65d8377 100644
--- a/shellinabox/launcher.c
+++ b/shellinabox/launcher.c
@@ -1036,7 +1036,6 @@ int forkLauncher(void) {
     // Temporarily drop most permissions. We still retain the ability to
     // switch back to root, which is necessary for launching "login".
     lowerPrivileges();
-    NOINTR(close(pair[0]));
     closeAllFds((int []){ pair[1] }, 1);
     launcherDaemon(pair[1]);
     fatal("exit() failed!");
diff --git a/shellinabox/shellinaboxd.c b/shellinabox/shellinaboxd.c
index 26904eb..f8d2314 100644
--- a/shellinabox/shellinaboxd.c
+++ b/shellinabox/shellinaboxd.c
@@ -74,10 +74,11 @@
 static int     port;
 static int     portMin;
 static int     portMax;
-static int     noBeep       = 0;
-static int     numericHosts = 0;
-static int     enableSSL    = 1;
+static int     noBeep        = 0;
+static int     numericHosts  = 0;
+static int     enableSSL     = 1;
 static char    *certificateDir;
+static int     certificateFd = -1;
 static HashMap *externalFiles;
 static Server  *cgiServer;
 static char    *cgiSessionKey;
@@ -592,7 +593,8 @@ static void usage(void) {
           "  ${user}    - user name",
           !serverSupportsSSL() ? "" :
           "  -c, --cert=CERTDIR          set certificate dir "
-          "(default: $PWD)\n",
+          "(default: $PWD)\n"
+          "  --cert-fd=FD                set certificate file from fd",
           group, PORTNUM,
           !serverSupportsSSL() ? "" :
           "  -t, --disable-ssl           disable transparent SSL support\n",
@@ -623,6 +625,7 @@ static void parseArgs(int argc, char * const argv[]) {
       { "help",        0, 0, 'h' },
       { "background",  2, 0, 'b' },
       { "cert",        1, 0, 'c' },
+      { "cert-fd",     1, 0,  0  },
       { "cgi",         2, 0,  0  },
       { "debug",       0, 0, 'd' },
       { "static-file", 1, 0, 'f' },
@@ -670,10 +673,30 @@ static void parseArgs(int argc, char * const argv[]) {
       if (!hasSSL) {
         warn("Ignoring certificate directory, as SSL support is unavailable");
       }
+      if (certificateFd) {
+        fatal("Cannot set both a certificate directory and file handle");
+      }
       if (certificateDir) {
         fatal("Only one certificate directory can be selected");
       }
       check(certificateDir = strdup(optarg));
+    } else if (!idx--) {
+      // Certificate file descriptor
+      if (!hasSSL) {
+        warn("Ignoring certificate directory, as SSL support is unavailable");
+      }
+      if (certificateDir) {
+        fatal("Cannot set both a certificate directory and file handle");
+      }
+      if (certificateFd >= 0) {
+        fatal("Only one certificate file handle can be provided");
+      }
+      int tmpFd            = strtoint(optarg, 3, INT_MAX);
+      certificateFd        = dup(tmpFd);
+      if (certificateFd < 0) {
+        fatal("Invalid certificate file handle");
+      }
+      check(!NOINTR(close(tmpFd)));
     } else if (!idx--) {
       // CGI
       if (demonize) {
@@ -823,7 +846,7 @@ static void parseArgs(int argc, char * const argv[]) {
       if (fd >= 0) {
         char buf[40];
         NOINTR(write(fd, buf, snprintf(buf, 40, "%d", (int)getpid())));
-        NOINTR(close(fd));
+        check(!NOINTR(close(fd)));
       }
     }
   }
@@ -902,7 +925,8 @@ int main(int argc, char * const argv[]) {
     fflush(stdout);
     free(cgiRoot);
     check(!NOINTR(close(fds[1])));
-    closeAllFds((int []){ launcherFd, serverGetFd(server) }, 2);
+    closeAllFds((int []){ launcherFd, serverGetFd(server),
+                          certificateFd }, certificateFd >= 0 ? 3 : 2);
     logSetLogLevel(MSG_QUIET);
   }
   serverEnableSSL(server, enableSSL);
@@ -910,7 +934,9 @@ int main(int argc, char * const argv[]) {
   // Enable SSL support (if available)
   if (enableSSL) {
     check(serverSupportsSSL());
-    if (certificateDir) {
+    if (certificateFd >= 0) {
+      serverSetCertificateFd(server, certificateFd);
+    } else if (certificateDir) {
       char *tmp;
       if (strchr(certificateDir, '%')) {
         fatal("Invalid certificate directory name \"%s\".", certificateDir);
diff --git a/shellinabox/shellinaboxd.man.in b/shellinabox/shellinaboxd.man.in
index 11d6b82..84c8171 100755
--- a/shellinabox/shellinaboxd.man.in
+++ b/shellinabox/shellinaboxd.man.in
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ shellinaboxd \- publish command line shell through AJAX interface
 .B shellinaboxd
 [\ \fB-b\fP\ | \fB--background\fP[\fB=\fP\fIpidfile\fP]\ ]
 [\ \fB-c\fP\ | \fB--cert=\fP\fIcertdir\fP\ ]
+[\ \fB-c\fP\ | \fB--cert-fd=\fP\fIfd\fP\ ]
 [\ \fB--cgi\fP[\fB=\fP\fIportrange\fP]\ ]
 [\ \fB-d\fP\ | \fB--debug\fP\ ]
 [\ \fB-f\fP\ | \fB--static-file=\fP\fIurl\fP:\fIfile\fP\ ]
@@ -138,6 +139,16 @@ certificate. Due to this usability problem, and due to the perceived
 security implications, the use of auto-generated self-signed
 certificates is intended for testing or in intranet deployments, only.
 .TP
+\fB--cert-fd=\fP\fIfd\fP
+Instead of providing a
+.B --cert
+directory, it is also possible to provide a filedescriptor
+.I fd
+where the certificate and key can be retrieved. While this option disables
+.B SNI
+support, it does offer an alternative solution for securely providing
+the private key data to the daemon.
+.TP
 \fB--cgi\fP[\fB=\fP\fIportrange\fP]
 Instead of running
 .B shellinaboxd