diff --git a/src/conf.py b/src/conf.py
index ba8b3bcfc..7c1dda0ac 100644
--- a/src/conf.py
+++ b/src/conf.py
@@ -263,6 +263,9 @@ def registerNetwork(name, password=''):
         completed.""" % name))
     registerGlobalValue(network, 'channels', SpaceSeparatedSetOfChannels([],
         """Determines what channels the bot will join only on %s.""" % name))
+    registerGlobalValue(network, 'ssl', registry.Boolean(False,
+        """Determines whether the bot will attempt to connect with SSL sockets
+        to %s.""" % name))
     registerChannelValue(network.channels, 'key', registry.String('',
         """Determines what key (if any) will be used to join the channel."""))
     return network
diff --git a/src/drivers/Twisted.py b/src/drivers/Twisted.py
index fb466a679..bb870d885 100644
--- a/src/drivers/Twisted.py
+++ b/src/drivers/Twisted.py
@@ -37,10 +37,15 @@ import supybot.ircdb as ircdb
 import supybot.drivers as drivers
 import supybot.ircmsgs as ircmsgs
 
-from twisted.internet import reactor, error
+from twisted.internet import reactor, error, ssl
 from twisted.protocols.basic import LineReceiver
 from twisted.internet.protocol import ReconnectingClientFactory
 
+try:
+    from OpenSSL import SSL
+except ImportError:
+    drivers.log.debug('PyOpenSSL is not available, can not connect to SSL servers.')
+
 class TwistedRunnerDriver(drivers.IrcDriver):
     def name(self):
         return self.__class__.__name__
@@ -109,8 +114,21 @@ class SupyReconnectingFactory(ReconnectingClientFactory, drivers.ServersMixin):
         drivers.ServersMixin.__init__(self, irc)
         (server, port) = self._getNextServer()
         vhost = conf.supybot.protocols.irc.vhost()
+        if self.networkGroup.get('ssl').value:
+            self.connectSSL(server, port, vhost)
+        else:
+            self.connectTCP(server, port, vhost)
+
+    def connectTCP(self, server, port, vhost):
+        """Connect to the server with a standard TCP connection."""
         reactor.connectTCP(server, port, self, bindAddress=(vhost, 0))
 
+    def connectSSL(self, server, port, vhost):
+        """Connect to the server using an SSL socket."""
+        drivers.log.debug('Attempting an SSL connection.')
+        reactor.connectSSL(server, port, self,
+                        ssl.ClientContextFactory(), bindAddress=(vhost, 0))
+                    
     def clientConnectionFailed(self, connector, r):
         drivers.log.connectError(self.currentServer, errorMsg(r))
         (connector.host, connector.port) = self._getNextServer()
@@ -129,7 +147,6 @@ class SupyReconnectingFactory(ReconnectingClientFactory, drivers.ServersMixin):
         protocol.irc = self.irc
         return protocol
 
-
 Driver = SupyReconnectingFactory
 
 try: