diff --git a/dr.botzo.cfg.example b/dr.botzo.cfg.example
index 1bc6e8c..8953f36 100644
--- a/dr.botzo.cfg.example
+++ b/dr.botzo.cfg.example
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ dbhost = localhost
 dbuser = dr_botzo
 dbpass = password
 dbname = dr_botzo
+ssl = no
+ipv6 = yes
 
 [IrcAdmin]
 autojoin = #bss
diff --git a/dr.botzo.py b/dr.botzo.py
index 7f73642..64a1f4a 100644
--- a/dr.botzo.py
+++ b/dr.botzo.py
@@ -85,12 +85,33 @@ except NoOptionError as e:
     sys.exit("Aborted due to error with necessary configuration: "
              "{0:s}".format(str(e)))
 
+# get some optional parameters
+use_ssl = False
+try:
+    use_ssl = config.getboolean('dr.botzo', 'ssl')
+except NoOptionError:
+    pass
+if use_ssl:
+    log.info("SSL support enabled")
+else:
+    log.debug("SSL not requested")
+
+use_ipv6 = False
+try:
+    use_ipv6 = config.getboolean('dr.botzo', 'ipv6')
+except NoOptionError:
+    pass
+if use_ipv6:
+    log.info("IPv6 support enabled")
+else:
+    log.debug("IPv6 not requested")
+
 # start up the IRC bot
 
 # create IRC and server objects and connect
 irc = DrBotIRC.DrBotIRC(config)
 server = irc.server().connect(botserver, botport, botnick, botpass,
-                              botuser, botircname)
+                              botuser, botircname, ssl=use_ssl, ipv6=use_ipv6)
 
 # load features
 try: