diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2f1e8d0..56d3b8f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ tunnel({
   dstPort: 8000,
   //srcHost: '127.0.0.1', // default
   //srcPort: dstPort // default is the same as dstPort
+  //privateKey: require('fs').readFileSync('/Your/Private/Key');
 }, function(error, clientConnection) {
   //
 });
@@ -35,6 +36,8 @@ var conn = tunnel({
   dstPort: 0, // dynamically choose an open port on tunneltest.com
   //srcHost: '127.0.0.1', // default
   srcPort: 8000, // must be specified if dstPort=0
+  //privateKey: require('fs').readFileSync('/Your/Private/Key');
+
 }, function (error, clientConnection) {
   //
 });
diff --git a/lib/config.js b/lib/config.js
index 4eae741..828e636 100644
--- a/lib/config.js
+++ b/lib/config.js
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ function createConfig(userConfig) {
     srcHost: 'localhost',
     dstPort: null,
     dstHost: 'localhost',
-    localHost: 'localhost'
+    localHost: 'localhost',
+    privateKey: null
   });
 
   // Try to use ssh-agent if no auth information was set
@@ -17,6 +18,10 @@ function createConfig(userConfig) {
     config.agent = config.agent || process.env.SSH_AUTH_SOCK;
   }
 
+  if (userConfig.privateKey !== null) {
+    config.privateKey = userConfig.privateKey
+  } 
+
   // No local route, no remote route.. exit here
   if (config.dstPort === null || !config.dstHost || !config.host) {
     throw new Error('invalid configuration.');