diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d8d9f8b..8cf198d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ The length of the secret to generate, in bytes. Note that the secret is
 passed around base-64 encoded and that this length refers to the underlying
 bytes, not the length of the base-64 string. Defaults to `18` bytes.
 
+##### hashAlgorithm
+
+The algorithm to be used in generating hash digests. "*The algorithm is dependent on the available algorithms supported by the version of OpenSSL on the platform*" ([see Node crypto.createHash documentation](https://nodejs.org/api/crypto.html#crypto_crypto_createhash_algorithm_options))
+
 #### tokens.create(secret)
 
 Create a new CSRF token attached to the given `secret`. The `secret` is a
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 78babe1..31ea4a0 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ var EQUAL_GLOBAL_REGEXP = /=/g
 var PLUS_GLOBAL_REGEXP = /\+/g
 var SLASH_GLOBAL_REGEXP = /\//g
 
+var DefaultOptions = {
+  saltLength: 8,
+  secretLength: 18,
+  hashAlgorithm: 'sha1'
+}
+
 /**
  * Module exports.
  * @public
@@ -51,7 +57,7 @@ function Tokens (options) {
 
   var saltLength = opts.saltLength !== undefined
     ? opts.saltLength
-    : 8
+    : DefaultOptions.saltLength
 
   if (typeof saltLength !== 'number' || !isFinite(saltLength) || saltLength < 1) {
     throw new TypeError('option saltLength must be finite number > 1')
@@ -59,14 +65,23 @@ function Tokens (options) {
 
   var secretLength = opts.secretLength !== undefined
     ? opts.secretLength
-    : 18
+    : DefaultOptions.secretLength
 
   if (typeof secretLength !== 'number' || !isFinite(secretLength) || secretLength < 1) {
     throw new TypeError('option secretLength must be finite number > 1')
   }
 
+  var hashAlgorithm = opts.hashAlgorithm !== undefined
+    ? opts.hashAlgorithm
+    : DefaultOptions.hashAlgorithm
+
+  if (typeof hashAlgorithm !== 'string' || !hashAlgorithm) {
+    throw new TypeError('option hashAlgorithm must be valid hash algorithn')
+  }
+
   this.saltLength = saltLength
   this.secretLength = secretLength
+  this.hashAlgorithm = hashAlgorithm
 }
 
 /**
@@ -110,7 +125,7 @@ Tokens.prototype.secretSync = function secretSync () {
  */
 
 Tokens.prototype._tokenize = function tokenize (secret, salt) {
-  return salt + '-' + hash(salt + '-' + secret)
+  return salt + '-' + this.hash(salt + '-' + secret)
 }
 
 /**
@@ -148,9 +163,9 @@ Tokens.prototype.verify = function verify (secret, token) {
  * @private
  */
 
-function hash (str) {
+Tokens.prototype.hash = function hash (str) {
   return crypto
-    .createHash('sha1')
+    .createHash(this.hashAlgorithm)
     .update(str, 'ascii')
     .digest('base64')
     .replace(PLUS_GLOBAL_REGEXP, '-')
diff --git a/test/test.js b/test/test.js
index a9161f4..113f988 100644
--- a/test/test.js
+++ b/test/test.js
@@ -50,6 +50,18 @@ describe('Tokens', function () {
         assert.strictEqual(Tokens({ secretLength: 4 }).secretSync().length, 6)
       })
     })
+
+    describe('hashAlgorithm', function () {
+      it('should reject non-strings', function () {
+        assert.throws(Tokens.bind(null, { hashAlgorithm: 256 }),
+          /option hashAlgorithm/)
+      })
+
+      it('should reject empty strings', function () {
+        assert.throws(Tokens.bind(null, { hashAlgorithm: '' }),
+          /option hashAlgorithm/)
+      })
+    })
   })
 
   describe('.create(secret)', function () {