diff --git a/qiita_pet/nginx_example.conf b/qiita_pet/nginx_example.conf
index 400963dc7..36c3d7809 100644
--- a/qiita_pet/nginx_example.conf
+++ b/qiita_pet/nginx_example.conf
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ http {
         server localhost:21177;
     }
 
+    # define variables for the actions that shall be taken for websocket handshake
+    map $http_upgrade $connection_upgrade {
+        default upgrade;
+        ''      close;
+    }
+
     # listening to 8080 and redirecting to https
     server {
            listen         8080;
@@ -56,6 +62,19 @@ http {
             alias /Users/username/qiita/qiita_db/support_files/test_data/;
         }
 
+        # enables communiction through websockets.
+        # Currently, only endpoints /consumer/, /analysis/selected/socket/, and /study/list/socket/ use websockets
+        location ~ ^/(consumer|analysis/selected/socket|study/list/socket)/ {
+            proxy_pass $scheme://mainqiita;
+            proxy_set_header Host $http_host;
+            proxy_redirect http:// https://;
+            proxy_http_version 1.1;
+            proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
+            proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
+            proxy_set_header Connection $connection_upgrade;
+            proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Host $http_host;
+        }
+
         location / {
             proxy_pass $scheme://mainqiita;
             proxy_redirect     off;