diff --git a/client/client.go b/client/client.go
index 49b62e65..66de1351 100644
--- a/client/client.go
+++ b/client/client.go
@@ -2,10 +2,15 @@ package chclient
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"crypto/ecdh"
+	"crypto/ecdsa"
+	"crypto/ed25519"
 	"crypto/md5"
+	"crypto/rsa"
 	"crypto/tls"
 	"crypto/x509"
 	"encoding/base64"
+	"encoding/pem"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
@@ -23,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/jpillora/chisel/share/cnet"
 	"github.com/jpillora/chisel/share/settings"
 	"github.com/jpillora/chisel/share/tunnel"
+	"github.com/youmark/pkcs8"
 
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
 	"golang.org/x/net/proxy"
@@ -51,6 +57,7 @@ type TLSConfig struct {
 	CA         string
 	Cert       string
 	Key        string
+	KeyPass    string
 	ServerName string
 }
 
@@ -129,7 +136,43 @@ func NewClient(c *Config) (*Client, error) {
 		}
 		//provide client cert and key pair for mtls
 		if c.TLS.Cert != "" && c.TLS.Key != "" {
-			c, err := tls.LoadX509KeyPair(c.TLS.Cert, c.TLS.Key)
+			k, err := os.ReadFile(c.TLS.Key)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("Failed to load file: %s", c.TLS.Key)
+			}
+			pemBlock, _ := pem.Decode(k)
+			var privateKey any
+			if strings.HasPrefix(pemBlock.Type, "ENCRYPTED") {
+				privateKey, err = pkcs8.ParsePKCS8PrivateKey(pemBlock.Bytes, []byte(c.TLS.KeyPass))
+			} else {
+				privateKey, err = pkcs8.ParsePKCS8PrivateKey(pemBlock.Bytes, nil)
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s", err)
+			}
+			switch pk := privateKey.(type) {
+			case *rsa.PrivateKey:
+				privateKey = pk
+			case ed25519.PrivateKey:
+				privateKey = pk
+			case *ecdh.PrivateKey:
+				privateKey = pk
+			case *ecdsa.PrivateKey:
+				privateKey = pk
+			default:
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("Unknown private key type")
+			}
+			privateKeyDER, _ := x509.MarshalPKCS8PrivateKey(privateKey)
+			pemBlock = &pem.Block{
+				Type:  "PRIVATE KEY",
+				Bytes: privateKeyDER,
+			}
+			privateKeyPEMBlock := pem.EncodeToMemory(pemBlock)
+			certPEMBlock, err := os.ReadFile(c.TLS.Cert)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("Failed to load file: %s", c.TLS.Cert)
+			}
+			c, err := tls.X509KeyPair(certPEMBlock, privateKeyPEMBlock)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("Error loading client cert and key pair: %v", err)
 			}
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 34f0abe2..a8290bbf 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ require (
 	github.com/jpillora/backoff v1.0.0
 	github.com/jpillora/requestlog v1.0.0
 	github.com/jpillora/sizestr v1.0.0
-	golang.org/x/crypto v0.16.0
-	golang.org/x/net v0.14.0
+	github.com/youmark/pkcs8 v0.0.0-20240726163527-a2c0da244d78
+	golang.org/x/crypto v0.22.0
+	golang.org/x/net v0.21.0
 	golang.org/x/sync v0.5.0
 )
 
@@ -18,6 +19,6 @@ require (
 	github.com/andrew-d/go-termutil v0.0.0-20150726205930-009166a695a2 // indirect
 	github.com/jpillora/ansi v1.0.3 // indirect
 	github.com/tomasen/realip v0.0.0-20180522021738-f0c99a92ddce // indirect
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.15.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.19.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/text v0.14.0 // indirect
 )
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index e2f4898d..676602e3 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -16,16 +16,18 @@ github.com/jpillora/sizestr v1.0.0 h1:4tr0FLxs1Mtq3TnsLDV+GYUWG7Q26a6s+tV5Zfw2yg
 github.com/jpillora/sizestr v1.0.0/go.mod h1:bUhLv4ctkknatr6gR42qPxirmd5+ds1u7mzD+MZ33f0=
 github.com/tomasen/realip v0.0.0-20180522021738-f0c99a92ddce h1:fb190+cK2Xz/dvi9Hv8eCYJYvIGUTN2/KLq1pT6CjEc=
 github.com/tomasen/realip v0.0.0-20180522021738-f0c99a92ddce/go.mod h1:o8v6yHRoik09Xen7gje4m9ERNah1d1PPsVq1VEx9vE4=
-golang.org/x/crypto v0.16.0 h1:mMMrFzRSCF0GvB7Ne27XVtVAaXLrPmgPC7/v0tkwHaY=
-golang.org/x/crypto v0.16.0/go.mod h1:gCAAfMLgwOJRpTjQ2zCCt2OcSfYMTeZVSRtQlPC7Nq4=
-golang.org/x/net v0.14.0 h1:BONx9s002vGdD9umnlX1Po8vOZmrgH34qlHcD1MfK14=
-golang.org/x/net v0.14.0/go.mod h1:PpSgVXXLK0OxS0F31C1/tv6XNguvCrnXIDrFMspZIUI=
+github.com/youmark/pkcs8 v0.0.0-20240726163527-a2c0da244d78 h1:ilQV1hzziu+LLM3zUTJ0trRztfwgjqKnBWNtSRkbmwM=
+github.com/youmark/pkcs8 v0.0.0-20240726163527-a2c0da244d78/go.mod h1:aL8wCCfTfSfmXjznFBSZNN13rSJjlIOI1fUNAtF7rmI=
+golang.org/x/crypto v0.22.0 h1:g1v0xeRhjcugydODzvb3mEM9SQ0HGp9s/nh3COQ/C30=
+golang.org/x/crypto v0.22.0/go.mod h1:vr6Su+7cTlO45qkww3VDJlzDn0ctJvRgYbC2NvXHt+M=
+golang.org/x/net v0.21.0 h1:AQyQV4dYCvJ7vGmJyKki9+PBdyvhkSd8EIx/qb0AYv4=
+golang.org/x/net v0.21.0/go.mod h1:bIjVDfnllIU7BJ2DNgfnXvpSvtn8VRwhlsaeUTyUS44=
 golang.org/x/sync v0.5.0 h1:60k92dhOjHxJkrqnwsfl8KuaHbn/5dl0lUPUklKo3qE=
 golang.org/x/sync v0.5.0/go.mod h1:Czt+wKu1gCyEFDUtn0jG5QVvpJ6rzVqr5aXyt9drQfk=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20220908164124-27713097b956/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.15.0 h1:h48lPFYpsTvQJZF4EKyI4aLHaev3CxivZmv7yZig9pc=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.15.0/go.mod h1:/VUhepiaJMQUp4+oa/7Zr1D23ma6VTLIYjOOTFZPUcA=
-golang.org/x/term v0.15.0 h1:y/Oo/a/q3IXu26lQgl04j/gjuBDOBlx7X6Om1j2CPW4=
-golang.org/x/term v0.15.0/go.mod h1:BDl952bC7+uMoWR75FIrCDx79TPU9oHkTZ9yRbYOrX0=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.19.0 h1:q5f1RH2jigJ1MoAWp2KTp3gm5zAGFUTarQZ5U386+4o=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.19.0/go.mod h1:/VUhepiaJMQUp4+oa/7Zr1D23ma6VTLIYjOOTFZPUcA=
+golang.org/x/term v0.19.0 h1:+ThwsDv+tYfnJFhF4L8jITxu1tdTWRTZpdsWgEgjL6Q=
+golang.org/x/term v0.19.0/go.mod h1:2CuTdWZ7KHSQwUzKva0cbMg6q2DMI3Mmxp+gKJbskEk=
 golang.org/x/text v0.14.0 h1:ScX5w1eTa3QqT8oi6+ziP7dTV1S2+ALU0bI+0zXKWiQ=
 golang.org/x/text v0.14.0/go.mod h1:18ZOQIKpY8NJVqYksKHtTdi31H5itFRjB5/qKTNYzSU=
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 01f9ca3b..fd0cffd5 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -154,12 +154,15 @@ var serverHelp = `
     --reverse, Allow clients to specify reverse port forwarding remotes
     in addition to normal remotes.
 
-    --tls-key, Enables TLS and provides optional path to a PEM-encoded
+    --tls-key, Enables TLS and provides optional path to a PEM-encoded 
     TLS private key. When this flag is set, you must also set --tls-cert,
     and you cannot set --tls-domain.
 
+    --tls-keypass, Specifies a password to decrypt a PEM-encoded encrypted
+    private key in PKCS#8 format.
+
     --tls-cert, Enables TLS and provides optional path to a PEM-encoded
-    TLS certificate. When this flag is set, you must also set --tls-key,
+    TLS certificate. When this flag is set, you must also set --tls-key, 
     and you cannot set --tls-domain.
 
     --tls-domain, Enables TLS and automatically acquires a TLS key and
@@ -191,6 +194,7 @@ func server(args []string) {
 	flags.BoolVar(&config.Socks5, "socks5", false, "")
 	flags.BoolVar(&config.Reverse, "reverse", false, "")
 	flags.StringVar(&config.TLS.Key, "tls-key", "", "")
+	flags.StringVar(&config.TLS.KeyPass, "tls-keypass", "", "")
 	flags.StringVar(&config.TLS.Cert, "tls-cert", "", "")
 	flags.Var(multiFlag{&config.TLS.Domains}, "tls-domain", "")
 	flags.StringVar(&config.TLS.CA, "tls-ca", "", "")
@@ -412,9 +416,12 @@ var clientHelp = `
     may be still verified (see --fingerprint) after inner connection
     is established.
 
-    --tls-key, a path to a PEM encoded private key used for client 
+    --tls-key, a path to a PEM-encoded private key used for client 
     authentication (mutual-TLS).
 
+    --tls-keypass, Specifies a password to decrypt a PEM-encoded encrypted
+    private key in PKCS#8 format (mutual-TLS).
+	
     --tls-cert, a path to a PEM encoded certificate matching the provided 
     private key. The certificate must have client authentication 
     enabled (mutual-TLS).
@@ -433,6 +440,7 @@ func client(args []string) {
 	flags.BoolVar(&config.TLS.SkipVerify, "tls-skip-verify", false, "")
 	flags.StringVar(&config.TLS.Cert, "tls-cert", "", "")
 	flags.StringVar(&config.TLS.Key, "tls-key", "", "")
+	flags.StringVar(&config.TLS.KeyPass, "tls-keypass", "", "")
 	flags.Var(&headerFlags{config.Headers}, "header", "")
 	hostname := flags.String("hostname", "", "")
 	sni := flags.String("sni", "", "")
diff --git a/server/server.go b/server/server.go
index 8a702fce..addc38a3 100644
--- a/server/server.go
+++ b/server/server.go
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ func (s *Server) StartContext(ctx context.Context, host, port string) error {
 	}
 	l, err := s.listener(host, port)
 	if err != nil {
+		s.Infof("%s", err)
 		return err
 	}
 	h := http.Handler(http.HandlerFunc(s.handleClientHandler))
diff --git a/server/server_listen.go b/server/server_listen.go
index f6eb1ffa..aaca8c5c 100644
--- a/server/server_listen.go
+++ b/server/server_listen.go
@@ -1,21 +1,29 @@
 package chserver
 
 import (
+	"crypto/ecdh"
+	"crypto/ecdsa"
+	"crypto/ed25519"
+	"crypto/rsa"
 	"crypto/tls"
 	"crypto/x509"
+	"encoding/pem"
 	"errors"
 	"net"
 	"os"
 	"os/user"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/jpillora/chisel/share/settings"
+	"github.com/youmark/pkcs8"
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/acme/autocert"
 )
 
-//TLSConfig enables configures TLS
+// TLSConfig enables configures TLS
 type TLSConfig struct {
 	Key     string
+	KeyPass string
 	Cert    string
 	Domains []string
 	CA      string
@@ -33,7 +41,7 @@ func (s *Server) listener(host, port string) (net.Listener, error) {
 	}
 	extra := ""
 	if hasKeyCert {
-		c, err := s.tlsKeyCert(s.config.TLS.Key, s.config.TLS.Cert, s.config.TLS.CA)
+		c, err := s.tlsKeyCert(s.config.TLS.Key, s.config.TLS.KeyPass, s.config.TLS.Cert, s.config.TLS.CA)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -88,8 +96,44 @@ func (s *Server) tlsLetsEncrypt(domains []string) *tls.Config {
 	return m.TLSConfig()
 }
 
-func (s *Server) tlsKeyCert(key, cert string, ca string) (*tls.Config, error) {
-	keypair, err := tls.LoadX509KeyPair(cert, key)
+func (s *Server) tlsKeyCert(key, keypass string, cert string, ca string) (*tls.Config, error) {
+	k, err := os.ReadFile(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	pemBlock, _ := pem.Decode(k)
+	var privateKey any
+	if strings.HasPrefix(pemBlock.Type, "ENCRYPTED") {
+		privateKey, err = pkcs8.ParsePKCS8PrivateKey(pemBlock.Bytes, []byte(keypass))
+	} else {
+		privateKey, err = pkcs8.ParsePKCS8PrivateKey(pemBlock.Bytes, nil)
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	switch pk := privateKey.(type) {
+	case *rsa.PrivateKey:
+		privateKey = pk
+	case ed25519.PrivateKey:
+		privateKey = pk
+	case *ecdh.PrivateKey:
+		privateKey = pk
+	case *ecdsa.PrivateKey:
+		privateKey = pk
+	default:
+		return nil, errors.New("Unknown private key type")
+	}
+	privateKeyDER, _ := x509.MarshalPKCS8PrivateKey(privateKey)
+	pemBlock = &pem.Block{
+		Type:  "PRIVATE KEY",
+		Bytes: privateKeyDER,
+	}
+	privateKeyPEMBlock := pem.EncodeToMemory(pemBlock)
+	certPEMBlock, err := os.ReadFile(cert)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	keypair, err := tls.X509KeyPair(certPEMBlock, privateKeyPEMBlock)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}