diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a1ce8b2..99e7c5e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,10 +13,12 @@ Updates should follow the [Keep a CHANGELOG](http://keepachangelog.com/) princip
 ### Added
 - Message::getFolder() method
 - Create a fast count method for queries #216
+- STARTTLS encryption alias added
 
 ### Affected Classes
 - [Message::class](src/IMAP/Message.php)
 - [Query::class](src/IMAP/Query/Query.php)
+- [Client::class](src/IMAP/Client.php)
 
 ### Breaking changes
 - NaN
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 73c7e9d..3186486 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ The following encryption methods are supported:
 - `false` — Disable encryption 
 - `ssl` — Use SSL
 - `tls` — Use TLS
+- `starttls` — Use STARTTLS (alias TLS)
 - `notls` — Use NoTLS
 
 Detailed [config/imap.php](src/config/imap.php) configuration:
diff --git a/src/IMAP/Client.php b/src/IMAP/Client.php
index d38ff23..29dd3e4 100644
--- a/src/IMAP/Client.php
+++ b/src/IMAP/Client.php
@@ -540,6 +540,8 @@ protected function getAddress() {
         }
         if (in_array($this->encryption,['tls', 'notls', 'ssl'])) {
             $address .= '/'.$this->encryption;
+        } elseif ($this->encryption === "starttls") {
+            $address .= '/tls';
         }
 
         $address .= '}';
diff --git a/src/config/imap.php b/src/config/imap.php
index 67512b0..183752c 100644
--- a/src/config/imap.php
+++ b/src/config/imap.php
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
             'host'  => env('IMAP_HOST', 'localhost'),
             'port'  => env('IMAP_PORT', 993),
             'protocol'  => env('IMAP_PROTOCOL', 'imap'), //might also use imap, [pop3 or nntp (untested)]
-            'encryption'    => env('IMAP_ENCRYPTION', 'ssl'), // Supported: false, 'ssl', 'tls', 'notls'
+            'encryption'    => env('IMAP_ENCRYPTION', 'ssl'), // Supported: false, 'ssl', 'tls', 'notls', 'starttls'
             'validate_cert' => env('IMAP_VALIDATE_CERT', true),
             'username' => env('IMAP_USERNAME', 'root@example.com'),
             'password' => env('IMAP_PASSWORD', ''),
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
         'gmail' => [ // account identifier
             'host' => 'imap.gmail.com',
             'port' => 993,
-            'encryption' => 'ssl', // Supported: false, 'ssl', 'tls'
+            'encryption' => 'ssl',
             'validate_cert' => true,
             'username' => 'example@gmail.com',
             'password' => 'PASSWORD',
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
         'another' => [ // account identifier
             'host' => '',
             'port' => 993,
-            'encryption' => false, // Supported: false, 'ssl', 'tls'
+            'encryption' => false,
             'validate_cert' => true,
             'username' => '',
             'password' => '',