diff --git a/apps/s_client.c b/apps/s_client.c
index fc0174f2c290b38fa8467756242d05dba31972be..94f2a941379b4e1c9e0245714a11b62d91df06a6 100644
--- a/apps/s_client.c
+++ b/apps/s_client.c
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ typedef unsigned int u_int;
 
 #undef BUFSIZZ
 #define BUFSIZZ 1024*8
+#define S_CLIENT_IRC_READ_TIMEOUT 8
 
 extern int verify_depth;
 extern int verify_error;
@@ -516,7 +517,7 @@ OPTIONS s_client_options[] = {
     {"tls1_1", OPT_TLS1_1, '-', "Just use TLSv1.1"},
     {"tls1", OPT_TLS1, '-', "Just use TLSv1"},
     {"starttls", OPT_STARTTLS, 's',
-     "Use the STARTTLS command before starting TLS"},
+     "Use the appropriate STARTTLS command before starting TLS"},
     {"xmpphost", OPT_XMPPHOST, 's',
      "Host to use with \"-starttls xmpp[-server]\""},
     {"rand", OPT_RAND, 's',
@@ -614,7 +615,8 @@ typedef enum PROTOCOL_choice {
     PROTO_TELNET,
     PROTO_XMPP,
     PROTO_XMPP_SERVER,
-    PROTO_CONNECT
+    PROTO_CONNECT,
+    PROTO_IRC
 } PROTOCOL_CHOICE;
 
 static OPT_PAIR services[] = {
@@ -625,6 +627,7 @@ static OPT_PAIR services[] = {
     {"xmpp", PROTO_XMPP},
     {"xmpp-server", PROTO_XMPP_SERVER},
     {"telnet", PROTO_TELNET},
+    {"irc", PROTO_IRC},
     {NULL}
 };
 
@@ -1644,6 +1647,67 @@ int s_client_main(int argc, char **argv)
             }
         }
         break;
+    case PROTO_IRC:
+        {
+            int numeric;
+            BIO *fbio = BIO_new(BIO_f_buffer());
+
+            BIO_push(fbio, sbio);
+            BIO_printf(fbio, "STARTTLS\r\n");
+            (void)BIO_flush(fbio);
+            width = SSL_get_fd(con) + 1;
+
+            do {
+                numeric = 0;
+
+                FD_ZERO(&readfds);
+                openssl_fdset(SSL_get_fd(con), &readfds);
+                timeout.tv_sec = S_CLIENT_IRC_READ_TIMEOUT;
+                timeout.tv_usec = 0;
+                /*
+                 * If the IRCd doesn't respond within
+                 * S_CLIENT_IRC_READ_TIMEOUT seconds, assume
+                 * it doesn't support STARTTLS. Many IRCds
+                 * will not give _any_ sort of response to a
+                 * STARTTLS command when it's not supported.
+                 */
+                if (!BIO_get_buffer_num_lines(fbio)
+                    && !BIO_pending(fbio)
+                    && !BIO_pending(sbio)
+                    && select(width, (void *)&readfds, NULL, NULL,
+                              &timeout) < 1) {
+                    BIO_printf(bio_err,
+                               "Timeout waiting for response (%d seconds).\n",
+                               S_CLIENT_IRC_READ_TIMEOUT);
+                    break;
+                }
+
+                mbuf_len = BIO_gets(fbio, mbuf, BUFSIZZ);
+                if (mbuf_len < 1 || sscanf(mbuf, "%*s %d", &numeric) != 1)
+                    break;
+                /* :example.net 451 STARTTLS :You have not registered */
+                /* :example.net 421 STARTTLS :Unknown command */
+                if ((numeric == 451 || numeric == 421)
+                    && strstr(mbuf, "STARTTLS") != NULL) {
+                    BIO_printf(bio_err, "STARTTLS not supported: %s", mbuf);
+                    break;
+                }
+                if (numeric == 691) {
+                    BIO_printf(bio_err, "STARTTLS negotiation failed: ");
+                    ERR_print_errors(bio_err);
+                    break;
+                }
+            } while (numeric != 670);
+
+            (void)BIO_flush(fbio);
+            BIO_pop(fbio);
+            BIO_free(fbio);
+            if (numeric != 670) {
+                BIO_printf(bio_err, "Server does not support STARTTLS.\n");
+                ret = 1;
+                goto shut;
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     for (;;) {
diff --git a/doc/apps/s_client.pod b/doc/apps/s_client.pod
index 4d23dc9e89642b6a501213e8168c78fd35ec3764..6468999b25d52afef05bac36a1730cd34041c8d8 100644
--- a/doc/apps/s_client.pod
+++ b/doc/apps/s_client.pod
@@ -298,8 +298,8 @@ command for more information.
 
 send the protocol-specific message(s) to switch to TLS for communication.
 B<protocol> is a keyword for the intended protocol.  Currently, the only
-supported keywords are "smtp", "pop3", "imap", "ftp", "xmpp",
-and "xmpp-server".
+supported keywords are "smtp", "pop3", "imap", "ftp", "xmpp", "xmpp-server",
+and "irc."
 
 =item B<-xmpphost hostname>