diff --git a/appl/ftp/ftp/ftp_var.h b/appl/ftp/ftp/ftp_var.h
index 3dbe6b44a..75ec495b7 100644
--- a/appl/ftp/ftp/ftp_var.h
+++ b/appl/ftp/ftp/ftp_var.h
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ extern int	debug;			/* debugging level */
 extern int	bell;			/* ring bell on cmd completion */
 extern int	doglob;			/* glob local file names */
 extern int	autologin;		/* establish user account on connection */
+extern int	doencrypt;
 extern int	proxy;			/* proxy server connection active */
 extern int	proxflag;		/* proxy connection exists */
 extern int	sunique;		/* store files on server with unique name */
diff --git a/appl/ftp/ftp/globals.c b/appl/ftp/ftp/globals.c
index 1b9550040..0531ef152 100644
--- a/appl/ftp/ftp/globals.c
+++ b/appl/ftp/ftp/globals.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ int	lineedit;		/* use line-editing */
 int	debug;			/* debugging level */
 int	bell;			/* ring bell on cmd completion */
 int	doglob;			/* glob local file names */
+int	doencrypt;		/* try to use encryption */
 int	autologin;		/* establish user account on connection */
 int	proxy;			/* proxy server connection active */
 int	proxflag;		/* proxy connection exists */
diff --git a/appl/ftp/ftp/main.c b/appl/ftp/ftp/main.c
index 44a55d664..b04d1c62f 100644
--- a/appl/ftp/ftp/main.c
+++ b/appl/ftp/ftp/main.c
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ struct getargs getargs[] = {
       "verbosity", NULL},
     { NULL,	'K', arg_negative_flag, &use_kerberos,
       "Disable kerberos authentication", NULL},
+    { "encrypt", 'x', arg_flag, &doencrypt,
+      "Encrypt command and data channel if possible" },
     { "version", 0,  arg_flag, &version_flag },
     { "help",	'h', arg_flag, &help_flag },
 };