diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 8a9ca6c7a4..1aa432e2b9 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ External library support:
   --enable-libxvid         enable Xvid encoding via xvidcore,
                            native MPEG-4/Xvid encoder exists [no]
   --enable-mlib            enable Sun medialib [no]
+  --enable-openssl         enable openssl [no]
   --enable-zlib            enable zlib [autodetect]
 
 Advanced options (experts only):
@@ -960,6 +961,7 @@ CONFIG_LIST="
     mpegaudiodsp
     network
     nonfree
+    openssl
     pic
     postproc
     rdft
@@ -2572,6 +2574,7 @@ die_license_disabled gpl libxvid
 die_license_disabled gpl x11grab
 
 die_license_disabled nonfree libfaac
+die_license_disabled nonfree openssl
 
 die_license_disabled version3 libopencore_amrnb
 die_license_disabled version3 libopencore_amrwb
@@ -2917,6 +2920,10 @@ enabled libx264    && require  libx264 x264.h x264_encoder_encode -lx264 &&
 enabled libxavs    && require  libxavs xavs.h xavs_encoder_encode -lxavs
 enabled libxvid    && require  libxvid xvid.h xvid_global -lxvidcore
 enabled mlib       && require  mediaLib mlib_types.h mlib_VectorSub_S16_U8_Mod -lmlib
+enabled openssl    && { check_lib openssl/ssl.h SSL_library_init -lssl -lcrypto ||
+                        check_lib openssl/ssl.h SSL_library_init -lssl32 -leay32 ||
+                        check_lib openssl/ssl.h SSL_library_init -lssl -lcrypto -lws2_32 -lgdi32 ||
+                        die "ERROR: openssl not found"; }
 
 # libdc1394 check
 if enabled libdc1394; then
@@ -3196,6 +3203,7 @@ echo "libvpx enabled            ${libvpx-no}"
 echo "libx264 enabled           ${libx264-no}"
 echo "libxavs enabled           ${libxavs-no}"
 echo "libxvid enabled           ${libxvid-no}"
+echo "openssl enabled           ${openssl-no}"
 echo "zlib enabled              ${zlib-no}"
 echo "bzlib enabled             ${bzlib-no}"
 echo