diff --git a/cmd/helm/helm.go b/cmd/helm/helm.go
index 64200adaf..9ade3e344 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/helm.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/helm.go
@@ -45,6 +45,14 @@ const (
 	tillerNamespaceEnvVar  = "TILLER_NAMESPACE"
 )
 
+var (
+	tlsCaCertFile string // path to TLS CA certificate file
+	tlsCertFile   string // path to TLS certificate file
+	tlsKeyFile    string // path to TLS key file
+	tlsVerify     bool   // enable TLS and verify remote certificates
+	tlsEnable     bool   // enable TLS
+)
+
 var (
 	helmHome        string
 	tillerHost      string
diff --git a/cmd/helm/init.go b/cmd/helm/init.go
index f855abe9a..bf7d38f16 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/init.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/init.go
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ type initCmd struct {
 	dryRun     bool
 	out        io.Writer
 	home       helmpath.Home
+	opts       installer.Options
 	kubeClient internalclientset.Interface
 }
 
@@ -99,25 +100,73 @@ func newInitCmd(out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 	f.BoolVarP(&i.clientOnly, "client-only", "c", false, "if set does not install tiller")
 	f.BoolVar(&i.dryRun, "dry-run", false, "do not install local or remote")
 
+	// f.BoolVar(&tlsEnable, "tiller-tls", false, "install tiller with TLS enabled")
+	// f.BoolVar(&tlsVerify, "tiller-tls-verify", false, "install tiller with TLS enabled and to verify remote certificates")
+	// f.StringVar(&tlsKeyFile, "tiller-tls-key", "", "path to TLS key file to install with tiller")
+	// f.StringVar(&tlsCertFile, "tiller-tls-cert", "", "path to TLS certificate file to install with tiller")
+	// f.StringVar(&tlsCaCertFile, "tls-ca-cert", "", "path to CA root certificate")
+
 	return cmd
 }
 
+// tlsOptions sanitizes the tls flags as well as checks for the existence of required
+// tls files indicated by those flags, if any.
+func (i *initCmd) tlsOptions() error {
+	i.opts.EnableTLS = tlsEnable || tlsVerify
+	i.opts.VerifyTLS = tlsVerify
+
+	if i.opts.EnableTLS {
+		missing := func(file string) bool {
+			_, err := os.Stat(file)
+			return os.IsNotExist(err)
+		}
+		if i.opts.TLSKeyFile = tlsKeyFile; i.opts.TLSKeyFile == "" || missing(i.opts.TLSKeyFile) {
+			return errors.New("missing required TLS key file")
+		}
+		if i.opts.TLSCertFile = tlsCertFile; i.opts.TLSCertFile == "" || missing(i.opts.TLSCertFile) {
+			return errors.New("missing required TLS certificate file")
+		}
+		if i.opts.VerifyTLS {
+			if i.opts.TLSCaCertFile = tlsCaCertFile; i.opts.TLSCaCertFile == "" || missing(i.opts.TLSCaCertFile) {
+				return errors.New("missing required TLS CA file")
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // runInit initializes local config and installs tiller to Kubernetes Cluster
 func (i *initCmd) run() error {
+	if err := i.tlsOptions(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	i.opts.Namespace = i.namespace
+	i.opts.UseCanary = i.canary
+	i.opts.ImageSpec = i.image
+
 	if flagDebug {
-		dm, err := installer.DeploymentManifest(i.namespace, i.image, i.canary)
-		if err != nil {
+		var mfs string
+		var err error
+
+		// write deployment manifest
+		if mfs, err = installer.DeploymentManifest(&i.opts); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		fm := fmt.Sprintf("apiVersion: extensions/v1beta1\nkind: Deployment\n%s", dm)
-		fmt.Fprintln(i.out, fm)
+		fmt.Fprintln(i.out, fmt.Sprintf("apiVersion: extensions/v1beta1\nkind: Deployment\n%s", mfs))
 
-		sm, err := installer.ServiceManifest(i.namespace)
-		if err != nil {
+		// write service manifest
+		if mfs, err = installer.ServiceManifest(i.namespace); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		fm = fmt.Sprintf("apiVersion: v1\nkind: Service\n%s", sm)
-		fmt.Fprintln(i.out, fm)
+		fmt.Fprintln(i.out, fmt.Sprintf("apiVersion: v1\nkind: Service\n%s", mfs))
+
+		// write secret manifest
+		if i.opts.EnableTLS {
+			if mfs, err = installer.SecretManifest(&i.opts); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			fmt.Fprintln(i.out, fmt.Sprintf("apiVersion: v1\nkind: Secret\n%s", mfs))
+		}
 	}
 
 	if i.dryRun {
@@ -143,13 +192,12 @@ func (i *initCmd) run() error {
 			}
 			i.kubeClient = c
 		}
-		opts := &installer.Options{Namespace: i.namespace, ImageSpec: i.image, UseCanary: i.canary}
-		if err := installer.Install(i.kubeClient, opts); err != nil {
+		if err := installer.Install(i.kubeClient, &i.opts); err != nil {
 			if !kerrors.IsAlreadyExists(err) {
 				return fmt.Errorf("error installing: %s", err)
 			}
 			if i.upgrade {
-				if err := installer.Upgrade(i.kubeClient, opts); err != nil {
+				if err := installer.Upgrade(i.kubeClient, &i.opts); err != nil {
 					return fmt.Errorf("error when upgrading: %s", err)
 				}
 				fmt.Fprintln(i.out, "\nTiller (the helm server side component) has been upgraded to the current version.")
diff --git a/cmd/helm/installer/install.go b/cmd/helm/installer/install.go
index 2ca06a9c1..338e31eca 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/installer/install.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/installer/install.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package installer // import "k8s.io/helm/cmd/helm/installer"
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
 
 	"github.com/ghodss/yaml"
 
@@ -28,22 +28,23 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/client/clientset_generated/internalclientset/typed/core/internalversion"
 	extensionsclient "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/client/clientset_generated/internalclientset/typed/extensions/internalversion"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util/intstr"
-
-	"k8s.io/helm/pkg/version"
 )
 
-const defaultImage = "gcr.io/kubernetes-helm/tiller"
-
 // Install uses kubernetes client to install tiller.
 //
 // Returns an error if the command failed.
 func Install(client internalclientset.Interface, opts *Options) error {
-	if err := createDeployment(client.Extensions(), opts.Namespace, opts.ImageSpec, opts.UseCanary); err != nil {
+	if err := createDeployment(client.Extensions(), opts); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	if err := createService(client.Core(), opts.Namespace); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if opts.tls() {
+		if err := createSecret(client.Core(), opts); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ func Upgrade(client internalclientset.Interface, opts *Options) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	obj.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].Image = selectImage(opts.ImageSpec, opts.UseCanary)
+	obj.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].Image = opts.selectImage()
 	if _, err := client.Extensions().Deployments(opts.Namespace).Update(obj); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -73,15 +74,15 @@ func Upgrade(client internalclientset.Interface, opts *Options) error {
 }
 
 // createDeployment creates the Tiller deployment reource
-func createDeployment(client extensionsclient.DeploymentsGetter, namespace, image string, canary bool) error {
-	obj := deployment(namespace, image, canary)
+func createDeployment(client extensionsclient.DeploymentsGetter, opts *Options) error {
+	obj := deployment(opts)
 	_, err := client.Deployments(obj.Namespace).Create(obj)
 	return err
 }
 
 // deployment gets the deployment object that installs Tiller.
-func deployment(namespace, image string, canary bool) *extensions.Deployment {
-	return generateDeployment(namespace, selectImage(image, canary))
+func deployment(opts *Options) *extensions.Deployment {
+	return generateDeployment(opts)
 }
 
 // createService creates the Tiller service resource
@@ -96,21 +97,10 @@ func service(namespace string) *api.Service {
 	return generateService(namespace)
 }
 
-func selectImage(image string, canary bool) string {
-	switch {
-	case canary:
-		image = defaultImage + ":canary"
-	case image == "":
-		image = fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", defaultImage, version.Version)
-	}
-	return image
-}
-
 // DeploymentManifest gets the manifest (as a string) that describes the Tiller Deployment
 // resource.
-func DeploymentManifest(namespace, image string, canary bool) (string, error) {
-	obj := deployment(namespace, image, canary)
-
+func DeploymentManifest(opts *Options) (string, error) {
+	obj := deployment(opts)
 	buf, err := yaml.Marshal(obj)
 	return string(buf), err
 }
@@ -129,11 +119,11 @@ func generateLabels(labels map[string]string) map[string]string {
 	return labels
 }
 
-func generateDeployment(namespace, image string) *extensions.Deployment {
+func generateDeployment(opts *Options) *extensions.Deployment {
 	labels := generateLabels(map[string]string{"name": "tiller"})
 	d := &extensions.Deployment{
 		ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{
-			Namespace: namespace,
+			Namespace: opts.Namespace,
 			Name:      "tiller-deploy",
 			Labels:    labels,
 		},
@@ -147,13 +137,13 @@ func generateDeployment(namespace, image string) *extensions.Deployment {
 					Containers: []api.Container{
 						{
 							Name:            "tiller",
-							Image:           image,
+							Image:           opts.selectImage(),
 							ImagePullPolicy: "IfNotPresent",
 							Ports: []api.ContainerPort{
 								{ContainerPort: 44134, Name: "tiller"},
 							},
 							Env: []api.EnvVar{
-								{Name: "TILLER_NAMESPACE", Value: namespace},
+								{Name: "TILLER_NAMESPACE", Value: opts.Namespace},
 							},
 							LivenessProbe: &api.Probe{
 								Handler: api.Handler{
@@ -181,6 +171,37 @@ func generateDeployment(namespace, image string) *extensions.Deployment {
 			},
 		},
 	}
+
+	if opts.tls() {
+		const certsDir = "/etc/certs"
+
+		var tlsVerify, tlsEnable = "", "1"
+		if opts.VerifyTLS {
+			tlsVerify = "1"
+		}
+
+		// Mount secret to "/etc/certs"
+		d.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].VolumeMounts = append(d.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].VolumeMounts, api.VolumeMount{
+			Name:      "tiller-certs",
+			ReadOnly:  true,
+			MountPath: certsDir,
+		})
+		// Add environment variable required for enabling TLS
+		d.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].Env = append(d.Spec.Template.Spec.Containers[0].Env, []api.EnvVar{
+			{Name: "TILLER_TLS_VERIFY", Value: tlsVerify},
+			{Name: "TILLER_TLS_ENABLE", Value: tlsEnable},
+			{Name: "TILLER_TLS_CERTS", Value: certsDir},
+		}...)
+		// Add secret volume to deployment
+		d.Spec.Template.Spec.Volumes = append(d.Spec.Template.Spec.Volumes, api.Volume{
+			Name: "tiller-certs",
+			VolumeSource: api.VolumeSource{
+				Secret: &api.SecretVolumeSource{
+					SecretName: "tiller-secret",
+				},
+			},
+		})
+	}
 	return d
 }
 
@@ -206,3 +227,54 @@ func generateService(namespace string) *api.Service {
 	}
 	return s
 }
+
+// SecretManifest gets the manifest (as a string) that describes the Tiller Secret resource.
+func SecretManifest(opts *Options) (string, error) {
+	o, err := generateSecret(opts)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	buf, err := yaml.Marshal(o)
+	return string(buf), err
+}
+
+// createSecret creates the Tiller secret resource.
+func createSecret(client internalversion.SecretsGetter, opts *Options) error {
+	o, err := generateSecret(opts)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	_, err = client.Secrets(o.Namespace).Create(o)
+	return err
+}
+
+// generateSecret builds the secret object that hold Tiller secrets.
+func generateSecret(opts *Options) (*api.Secret, error) {
+	const secretName = "tiller-secret"
+
+	labels := generateLabels(map[string]string{"name": "tiller"})
+	secret := &api.Secret{
+		Type: api.SecretTypeOpaque,
+		Data: make(map[string][]byte),
+		ObjectMeta: api.ObjectMeta{
+			Name:      secretName,
+			Labels:    labels,
+			Namespace: opts.Namespace,
+		},
+	}
+	var err error
+	if secret.Data["tls.key"], err = read(opts.TLSKeyFile); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if secret.Data["tls.crt"], err = read(opts.TLSCertFile); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if opts.VerifyTLS {
+		if secret.Data["ca.crt"], err = read(opts.TLSCaCertFile); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+	return secret, nil
+}
+
+func read(path string) (b []byte, err error) { return ioutil.ReadFile(path) }
diff --git a/cmd/helm/installer/install_test.go b/cmd/helm/installer/install_test.go
index daa09b0d8..4d9a2cbca 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/installer/install_test.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/installer/install_test.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func TestDeploymentManifest(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
-		o, err := DeploymentManifest(api.NamespaceDefault, tt.image, tt.canary)
+		o, err := DeploymentManifest(&Options{Namespace: api.NamespaceDefault, ImageSpec: tt.image, UseCanary: tt.canary})
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("%s: error %q", tt.name, err)
 		}
@@ -146,7 +146,11 @@ func TestInstall_canary(t *testing.T) {
 func TestUpgrade(t *testing.T) {
 	image := "gcr.io/kubernetes-helm/tiller:v2.0.0"
 
-	existingDeployment := deployment(api.NamespaceDefault, "imageToReplace", false)
+	existingDeployment := deployment(&Options{
+		Namespace: api.NamespaceDefault,
+		ImageSpec: "imageToReplace",
+		UseCanary: false,
+	})
 	existingService := service(api.NamespaceDefault)
 
 	fc := &fake.Clientset{}
@@ -178,7 +182,11 @@ func TestUpgrade(t *testing.T) {
 func TestUpgrade_serviceNotFound(t *testing.T) {
 	image := "gcr.io/kubernetes-helm/tiller:v2.0.0"
 
-	existingDeployment := deployment(api.NamespaceDefault, "imageToReplace", false)
+	existingDeployment := deployment(&Options{
+		Namespace: api.NamespaceDefault,
+		ImageSpec: "imageToReplace",
+		UseCanary: false,
+	})
 
 	fc := &fake.Clientset{}
 	fc.AddReactor("get", "deployments", func(action testcore.Action) (bool, runtime.Object, error) {
diff --git a/cmd/helm/installer/options.go b/cmd/helm/installer/options.go
index 909b7e9e4..41f8aaf2a 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/installer/options.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/installer/options.go
@@ -16,6 +16,13 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 package installer // import "k8s.io/helm/cmd/helm/installer"
 
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"k8s.io/helm/pkg/version"
+)
+
+const defaultImage = "gcr.io/kubernetes-helm/tiller"
+
 // Options control how to install tiller into a cluster, upgrade, and uninstall tiller from a cluster.
 type Options struct {
 	// EnableTLS instructs tiller to serve with TLS enabled.
@@ -43,7 +50,7 @@ type Options struct {
 	// key tiller should use.
 	//
 	// Required and valid if and only if EnableTLS or VerifyTLS is set.
-	TLSKey string
+	TLSKeyFile string
 
 	// TLSCertFile identifies the file containing the pem encoded TLS
 	// certificate tiller should use.
@@ -57,3 +64,16 @@ type Options struct {
 	// Required and valid if and only if VerifyTLS is set.
 	TLSCaCertFile string
 }
+
+func (opts *Options) selectImage() string {
+	switch {
+	case opts.UseCanary:
+		return defaultImage + ":canary"
+	case opts.ImageSpec == "":
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", defaultImage, version.Version)
+	default:
+		return opts.ImageSpec
+	}
+}
+
+func (opts *Options) tls() bool { return opts.EnableTLS || opts.VerifyTLS }
diff --git a/cmd/helm/installer/uninstall_test.go b/cmd/helm/installer/uninstall_test.go
index e0db07fe6..bda91ca1c 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/installer/uninstall_test.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/installer/uninstall_test.go
@@ -55,7 +55,11 @@ func (f *fakeReaperFactory) Reaper(mapping *meta.RESTMapping) (kubectl.Reaper, e
 
 func TestUninstall(t *testing.T) {
 	existingService := service(api.NamespaceDefault)
-	existingDeployment := deployment(api.NamespaceDefault, "image", false)
+	existingDeployment := deployment(&Options{
+		Namespace: api.NamespaceDefault,
+		ImageSpec: "image",
+		UseCanary: false,
+	})
 
 	fc := &fake.Clientset{}
 	fc.AddReactor("get", "services", func(action testcore.Action) (bool, runtime.Object, error) {
@@ -92,7 +96,7 @@ func TestUninstall(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestUninstall_serviceNotFound(t *testing.T) {
-	existingDeployment := deployment(api.NamespaceDefault, "imageToReplace", false)
+	existingDeployment := deployment(&Options{Namespace: api.NamespaceDefault, ImageSpec: "imageToReplace", UseCanary: false})
 
 	fc := &fake.Clientset{}
 	fc.AddReactor("get", "services", func(action testcore.Action) (bool, runtime.Object, error) {