diff --git a/minimal-examples/ws-client/minimal-ws-client-echo/README.md b/minimal-examples/ws-client/minimal-ws-client-echo/README.md
index 8417804be..af8847af0 100644
--- a/minimal-examples/ws-client/minimal-ws-client-echo/README.md
+++ b/minimal-examples/ws-client/minimal-ws-client-echo/README.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Commandline option|Meaning
 -p port|Port to connect to
 -u url|URL path part to connect to
 -o|Finish after one connection
+--ssl|Open client connection with ssl
 
 ```
  $ ./lws-minimal-ws-client-echo
diff --git a/minimal-examples/ws-client/minimal-ws-client-echo/minimal-ws-client-echo.c b/minimal-examples/ws-client/minimal-ws-client-echo/minimal-ws-client-echo.c
index c28686c33..a758bc949 100644
--- a/minimal-examples/ws-client/minimal-ws-client-echo/minimal-ws-client-echo.c
+++ b/minimal-examples/ws-client/minimal-ws-client-echo/minimal-ws-client-echo.c
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 	if (lws_cmdline_option(argc, argv, "-o"))
 		options |= 1;
 
+	if (lws_cmdline_option(argc, argv, "--ssl"))
+		options |= 2;
+
 	if ((p = lws_cmdline_option(argc, argv, "-s")))
 		ads = p;
 
diff --git a/minimal-examples/ws-client/minimal-ws-client-echo/protocol_lws_minimal_client_echo.c b/minimal-examples/ws-client/minimal-ws-client-echo/protocol_lws_minimal_client_echo.c
index 34423967f..aa23e213b 100644
--- a/minimal-examples/ws-client/minimal-ws-client-echo/protocol_lws_minimal_client_echo.c
+++ b/minimal-examples/ws-client/minimal-ws-client-echo/protocol_lws_minimal_client_echo.c
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ connect_client(struct vhd_minimal_client_echo *vhd)
 	i.host = host;
 	i.origin = host;
 	i.ssl_connection = 0;
+	if ((*vhd->options) & 2)
+		i.ssl_connection |= LCCSCF_USE_SSL;
 	i.vhost = vhd->vhost;
 	//i.protocol = ;
 	i.pwsi = &vhd->client_wsi;