diff --git a/src/shrpx.cc b/src/shrpx.cc
index 8f3a8cc..22cfe34 100644
--- a/src/shrpx.cc
+++ b/src/shrpx.cc
@@ -356,6 +356,9 @@ void fill_default_config()
   mod_config()->client_proxy = false;
   mod_config()->client = false;
   mod_config()->client_mode = false;
+
+  mod_config()->insecure = false;
+  mod_config()->cacert = 0;
 }
 } // namespace
 
@@ -465,6 +468,15 @@ void print_help(std::ostream& out)
       << get_config()->backlog << "\n"
       << "    --ciphers=<SUITE>  Set allowed cipher list. The format of the\n"
       << "                       string is described in OpenSSL ciphers(1).\n"
+      << "    -k, --insecure     When used with -p or --client, don't verify\n"
+      << "                       backend server's certificate.\n"
+      << "    --cacert=<PATH>    When used with -p or --client, set path to\n"
+      << "                       trusted CA certificate file.\n"
+      << "                       The file must be in PEM format. It can\n"
+      << "                       contain multiple certificates. If the\n"
+      << "                       linked OpenSSL is configured to load system\n"
+      << "                       wide certificates, they are loaded\n"
+      << "                       at startup regardless of this option.\n"
       << "    -h, --help         Print this help.\n"
       << std::endl;
 }
@@ -482,6 +494,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     static option long_options[] = {
       {"backend", required_argument, 0, 'b' },
       {"frontend", required_argument, 0, 'f' },
+      {"insecure", no_argument, 0, 'k' },
       {"workers", required_argument, 0, 'n' },
       {"spdy-max-concurrent-streams", required_argument, 0, 'c' },
       {"log-level", required_argument, 0, 'L' },
@@ -506,11 +519,12 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
       {"ciphers", required_argument, &flag, 16 },
       {"client", no_argument, &flag, 17 },
       {"backend-spdy-window-bits", required_argument, &flag, 18 },
+      {"cacert", required_argument, &flag, 19 },
       {"help", no_argument, 0, 'h' },
       {0, 0, 0, 0 }
     };
     int option_index = 0;
-    int c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "DL:sb:c:f:n:hp", long_options,
+    int c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "DL:ksb:c:f:n:hp", long_options,
                         &option_index);
     if(c == -1) {
       break;
@@ -531,6 +545,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     case 'f':
       cmdcfgs.push_back(std::make_pair(SHRPX_OPT_FRONTEND, optarg));
       break;
+    case 'k':
+      cmdcfgs.push_back(std::make_pair(SHRPX_OPT_INSECURE, "yes"));
+      break;
     case 'n':
       cmdcfgs.push_back(std::make_pair(SHRPX_OPT_WORKERS, optarg));
       break;
@@ -626,6 +643,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
         cmdcfgs.push_back(std::make_pair(SHRPX_OPT_BACKEND_SPDY_WINDOW_BITS,
                                          optarg));
         break;
+      case 19:
+        // --cacert
+        cmdcfgs.push_back(std::make_pair(SHRPX_OPT_CACERT, optarg));
+        break;
       default:
         break;
       }
diff --git a/src/shrpx_config.cc b/src/shrpx_config.cc
index 69c6916..7ab7a9b 100644
--- a/src/shrpx_config.cc
+++ b/src/shrpx_config.cc
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ const char SHRPX_OPT_SYSLOG_FACILITY[] = "syslog-facility";
 const char SHRPX_OPT_BACKLOG[] = "backlog";
 const char SHRPX_OPT_CIPHERS[] = "ciphers";
 const char SHRPX_OPT_CLIENT[] = "client";
+const char SHRPX_OPT_INSECURE[] = "insecure";
+const char SHRPX_OPT_CACERT[] = "cacert";
 
 Config::Config()
   : verbose(false),
@@ -103,7 +105,9 @@ Config::Config()
     backlog(0),
     ciphers(0),
     client(false),
-    client_mode(false)
+    client_mode(false),
+    insecure(false),
+    cacert(0)
 {}
 
 namespace {
@@ -268,6 +272,10 @@ int parse_config(const char *opt, const char *optarg)
     set_config_str(&mod_config()->ciphers, optarg);
   } else if(util::strieq(opt, SHRPX_OPT_CLIENT)) {
     mod_config()->client = util::strieq(optarg, "yes");
+  } else if(util::strieq(opt, SHRPX_OPT_INSECURE)) {
+    mod_config()->insecure = util::strieq(optarg, "yes");
+  } else if(util::strieq(opt, SHRPX_OPT_CACERT)) {
+    set_config_str(&mod_config()->cacert, optarg);
   } else if(util::strieq(opt, "conf")) {
     LOG(WARNING) << "conf is ignored";
   } else {
diff --git a/src/shrpx_config.h b/src/shrpx_config.h
index 4413f27..27e4655 100644
--- a/src/shrpx_config.h
+++ b/src/shrpx_config.h
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ extern const char SHRPX_OPT_SYSLOG_FACILITY[];
 extern const char SHRPX_OPT_BACKLOG[];
 extern const char SHRPX_OPT_CIPHERS[];
 extern const char SHRPX_OPT_CLIENT[];
+extern const char SHRPX_OPT_INSECURE[];
+extern const char SHRPX_OPT_CACERT[];
 
 union sockaddr_union {
   sockaddr sa;
@@ -112,6 +114,8 @@ struct Config {
   bool client;
   // true if --client or --client-proxy are enabled.
   bool client_mode;
+  bool insecure;
+  char *cacert;
   Config();
 };
 
diff --git a/src/shrpx_spdy_session.cc b/src/shrpx_spdy_session.cc
index 7694a45..25bc85b 100644
--- a/src/shrpx_spdy_session.cc
+++ b/src/shrpx_spdy_session.cc
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "shrpx_error.h"
 #include "shrpx_spdy_downstream_connection.h"
 #include "shrpx_client_handler.h"
+#include "shrpx_ssl.h"
 #include "util.h"
 
 using namespace spdylay;
@@ -215,7 +216,8 @@ void eventcb(bufferevent *bev, short events, void *ptr)
       LOG(INFO) << "Downstream spdy connection established. " << spdy;
     }
     spdy->connected();
-    if(spdy->on_connect() != 0) {
+    if((!get_config()->insecure && spdy->check_cert() != 0) ||
+       spdy->on_connect() != 0) {
       spdy->disconnect();
       return;
     }
@@ -233,6 +235,11 @@ void eventcb(bufferevent *bev, short events, void *ptr)
 }
 } // namespace
 
+int SpdySession::check_cert()
+{
+  return ssl::check_cert(ssl_);
+}
+
 int SpdySession::initiate_connection()
 {
   int rv;
diff --git a/src/shrpx_spdy_session.h b/src/shrpx_spdy_session.h
index 5787044..4f7ffa8 100644
--- a/src/shrpx_spdy_session.h
+++ b/src/shrpx_spdy_session.h
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ public:
 
   int init_notification();
 
+  int check_cert();
+
   int disconnect();
   int initiate_connection();
   void connected();
diff --git a/src/shrpx_ssl.cc b/src/shrpx_ssl.cc
index 89f58d3..6337544 100644
--- a/src/shrpx_ssl.cc
+++ b/src/shrpx_ssl.cc
@@ -29,7 +29,12 @@
 #include <netinet/tcp.h>
 #include <pthread.h>
 
+#include <vector>
+#include <string>
+
 #include <openssl/crypto.h>
+#include <openssl/x509.h>
+#include <openssl/x509v3.h>
 
 #include <event2/bufferevent.h>
 #include <event2/bufferevent_ssl.h>
@@ -40,6 +45,9 @@
 #include "shrpx_client_handler.h"
 #include "shrpx_config.h"
 #include "shrpx_accesslog.h"
+#include "util.h"
+
+using namespace spdylay;
 
 namespace shrpx {
 
@@ -182,6 +190,20 @@ SSL_CTX* create_ssl_client_context()
   SSL_CTX_set_mode(ssl_ctx, SSL_MODE_AUTO_RETRY);
   SSL_CTX_set_mode(ssl_ctx, SSL_MODE_RELEASE_BUFFERS);
 
+  if(SSL_CTX_set_default_verify_paths(ssl_ctx) != 1) {
+    LOG(WARNING) << "Could not load system trusted ca certificates: "
+                 << ERR_error_string(ERR_get_error(), NULL);
+  }
+
+  if(get_config()->cacert) {
+    if(SSL_CTX_load_verify_locations(ssl_ctx, get_config()->cacert, 0) != 1) {
+      LOG(FATAL) << "Could not load trusted ca certificates from "
+                 << get_config()->cacert << ": "
+                 << ERR_error_string(ERR_get_error(), NULL);
+      DIE();
+    }
+  }
+
   SSL_CTX_set_next_proto_select_cb(ssl_ctx, select_next_proto_cb, 0);
   return ssl_ctx;
 }
@@ -228,6 +250,184 @@ ClientHandler* accept_ssl_connection(event_base *evbase, SSL_CTX *ssl_ctx,
   }
 }
 
+namespace {
+bool numeric_host(const char *hostname)
+{
+  struct addrinfo hints;
+  struct addrinfo* res;
+  memset(&hints, 0, sizeof(hints));
+  hints.ai_family = AF_UNSPEC;
+  hints.ai_flags = AI_NUMERICHOST;
+  if(getaddrinfo(hostname, 0, &hints, &res)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  freeaddrinfo(res);
+  return true;
+}
+} // namespace
+
+namespace {
+bool tls_hostname_match(const char *pattern, const char *hostname)
+{
+  const char *ptWildcard = strchr(pattern, '*');
+  if(ptWildcard == 0) {
+    return util::strieq(pattern, hostname);
+  }
+  const char *ptLeftLabelEnd = strchr(pattern, '.');
+  bool wildcardEnabled = true;
+  // Do case-insensitive match. At least 2 dots are required to enable
+  // wildcard match. Also wildcard must be in the left-most label.
+  // Don't attempt to match a presented identifier where the wildcard
+  // character is embedded within an A-label.
+  if(ptLeftLabelEnd == 0 || strchr(ptLeftLabelEnd+1, '.') == 0 ||
+     ptLeftLabelEnd < ptWildcard || util::istartsWith(pattern, "xn--")) {
+    wildcardEnabled = false;
+  }
+  if(!wildcardEnabled) {
+    return util::strieq(pattern, hostname);
+  }
+  const char *hnLeftLabelEnd = strchr(hostname, '.');
+  if(hnLeftLabelEnd == 0 || !util::strieq(ptLeftLabelEnd, hnLeftLabelEnd)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  // Perform wildcard match. Here '*' must match at least one
+  // character.
+  if(hnLeftLabelEnd - hostname < ptLeftLabelEnd - pattern) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  return util::istartsWith(hostname, hnLeftLabelEnd, pattern, ptWildcard) &&
+    util::iendsWith(hostname, hnLeftLabelEnd, ptWildcard+1, ptLeftLabelEnd);
+}
+} // namespace
+
+namespace {
+int verify_hostname(const char *hostname,
+                    const sockaddr_union *su,
+                    size_t salen,
+                    const std::vector<std::string>& dns_names,
+                    const std::vector<std::string>& ip_addrs,
+                    const std::string& common_name)
+{
+  if(numeric_host(hostname)) {
+    if(ip_addrs.empty()) {
+      return util::strieq(common_name.c_str(), hostname) ? 0 : -1;
+    }
+    const void *saddr;
+    switch(su->storage.ss_family) {
+    case AF_INET:
+      saddr = &su->in.sin_addr;
+      break;
+    case AF_INET6:
+      saddr = &su->in6.sin6_addr;
+      break;
+    default:
+      return -1;
+    }
+    for(size_t i = 0; i < ip_addrs.size(); ++i) {
+      if(salen == ip_addrs[i].size() &&
+         memcmp(saddr, ip_addrs[i].c_str(), salen) == 0) {
+        return 0;
+      }
+    }
+  } else {
+    if(dns_names.empty()) {
+      return tls_hostname_match(common_name.c_str(), hostname) ? 0 : -1;
+    }
+    for(size_t i = 0; i < dns_names.size(); ++i) {
+      if(tls_hostname_match(dns_names[i].c_str(), hostname)) {
+        return 0;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return -1;
+}
+} // namespace
+
+int check_cert(SSL *ssl)
+{
+  X509 *cert = SSL_get_peer_certificate(ssl);
+  if(!cert) {
+    LOG(ERROR) << "No certificate found";
+    return -1;
+  }
+  util::auto_delete<X509*> cert_deleter(cert, X509_free);
+  long verify_res = SSL_get_verify_result(ssl);
+  if(verify_res != X509_V_OK) {
+    LOG(ERROR) << "Certificate verification failed: "
+               << X509_verify_cert_error_string(verify_res);
+    return -1;
+  }
+  std::string common_name;
+  std::vector<std::string> dns_names;
+  std::vector<std::string> ip_addrs;
+  GENERAL_NAMES* altnames;
+  altnames = reinterpret_cast<GENERAL_NAMES*>
+    (X509_get_ext_d2i(cert, NID_subject_alt_name, 0, 0));
+  if(altnames) {
+    util::auto_delete<GENERAL_NAMES*> altnames_deleter(altnames,
+                                                       GENERAL_NAMES_free);
+    size_t n = sk_GENERAL_NAME_num(altnames);
+    for(size_t i = 0; i < n; ++i) {
+      const GENERAL_NAME *altname = sk_GENERAL_NAME_value(altnames, i);
+      if(altname->type == GEN_DNS) {
+        const char *name;
+        name = reinterpret_cast<char*>(ASN1_STRING_data(altname->d.ia5));
+        if(!name) {
+          continue;
+        }
+        size_t len = ASN1_STRING_length(altname->d.ia5);
+        if(std::find(name, name+len, '\0') != name+len) {
+          // Embedded NULL is not permitted.
+          continue;
+        }
+        dns_names.push_back(std::string(name, len));
+      } else if(altname->type == GEN_IPADD) {
+        const unsigned char *ip_addr = altname->d.iPAddress->data;
+        if(!ip_addr) {
+          continue;
+        }
+        size_t len = altname->d.iPAddress->length;
+        ip_addrs.push_back(std::string(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(ip_addr),
+                                      len));
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  X509_NAME *subjectname = X509_get_subject_name(cert);
+  if(!subjectname) {
+    LOG(ERROR) << "Could not get X509 name object from the certificate.";
+    return -1;
+  }
+  int lastpos = -1;
+  while(1) {
+    lastpos = X509_NAME_get_index_by_NID(subjectname, NID_commonName,
+                                         lastpos);
+    if(lastpos == -1) {
+      break;
+    }
+    X509_NAME_ENTRY *entry = X509_NAME_get_entry(subjectname, lastpos);
+    unsigned char *out;
+    int outlen = ASN1_STRING_to_UTF8(&out, X509_NAME_ENTRY_get_data(entry));
+    if(outlen < 0) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    if(std::find(out, out+outlen, '\0') != out+outlen) {
+      // Embedded NULL is not permitted.
+      continue;
+    }
+    common_name.assign(&out[0], &out[outlen]);
+    OPENSSL_free(out);
+    break;
+  }
+  if(verify_hostname(get_config()->downstream_host,
+                     &get_config()->downstream_addr,
+                     get_config()->downstream_addrlen,
+                     dns_names, ip_addrs, common_name) != 0) {
+    LOG(ERROR) << "Certificate verification failed: hostname does not match";
+    return -1;
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
 namespace {
 pthread_mutex_t *ssl_locks;
 } // namespace
diff --git a/src/shrpx_ssl.h b/src/shrpx_ssl.h
index 170e5a9..87e476c 100644
--- a/src/shrpx_ssl.h
+++ b/src/shrpx_ssl.h
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ ClientHandler* accept_ssl_connection(event_base *evbase, SSL_CTX *ssl_ctx,
                                      evutil_socket_t fd,
                                      sockaddr *addr, int addrlen);
 
+int check_cert(SSL *ssl);
+
 void setup_ssl_lock();
 
 void teardown_ssl_lock();
diff --git a/src/util.h b/src/util.h
index 651ea81..99ab72e 100644
--- a/src/util.h
+++ b/src/util.h
@@ -36,6 +36,47 @@ namespace spdylay {
 
 namespace util {
 
+template<typename T>
+class auto_delete {
+private:
+  T obj_;
+  void (*deleter_)(T);
+public:
+  auto_delete(T obj, void (*deleter)(T)):obj_(obj), deleter_(deleter) {}
+
+  ~auto_delete()
+  {
+    deleter_(obj_);
+  }
+};
+
+template<typename T>
+class auto_delete_d {
+private:
+  T obj_;
+public:
+  auto_delete_d(T obj):obj_(obj) {}
+
+  ~auto_delete_d()
+  {
+    delete obj_;
+  }
+};
+
+template<typename T, typename R>
+class auto_delete_r {
+private:
+  T obj_;
+  R (*deleter_)(T);
+public:
+  auto_delete_r(T obj, R (*deleter)(T)):obj_(obj), deleter_(deleter) {}
+
+  ~auto_delete_r()
+  {
+    (void)deleter_(obj_);
+  }
+};
+
 extern const std::string DEFAULT_STRIP_CHARSET;
 
 template<typename InputIterator>
@@ -233,8 +274,23 @@ bool endsWith
   return std::equal(first2, last2, last1-(last2-first2));
 }
 
+template<typename InputIterator1, typename InputIterator2>
+bool iendsWith
+(InputIterator1 first1,
+ InputIterator1 last1,
+ InputIterator2 first2,
+ InputIterator2 last2)
+{
+  if(last1-first1 < last2-first2) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  return std::equal(first2, last2, last1-(last2-first2), CaseCmp());
+}
+
 bool endsWith(const std::string& a, const std::string& b);
 
+bool strieq(const std::string& a, const std::string& b);
+
 bool strieq(const char *a, const char *b);
 
 bool strifind(const char *a, const char *b);