diff --git a/middleware/test/file.go b/middleware/test/file.go
index 626224cac..f87300e55 100644
--- a/middleware/test/file.go
+++ b/middleware/test/file.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package test
 import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 )
 
 // TempFile will create a temporary file on disk and returns the name and a cleanup function to remove it later.
@@ -17,3 +18,90 @@ func TempFile(dir, content string) (string, func(), error) {
 	rmFunc := func() { os.Remove(f.Name()) }
 	return f.Name(), rmFunc, nil
 }
+
+// WritePEMFiles creates a tmp dir with ca.pem, cert.pem, and key.pem and the func to remove it
+func WritePEMFiles(dir string) (string, func(), error) {
+	tempDir, err := ioutil.TempDir(dir, "go-test-pemfiles")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
+	}
+
+	data := `-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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+-----END CERTIFICATE-----`
+	path := filepath.Join(tempDir, "ca.pem")
+	if err := ioutil.WriteFile(path, []byte(data), 0644); err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
+	}
+	data = `-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
+MIICozCCAYsCCQCRlf5BrvPuqjANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQsFADASMRAwDgYDVQQDDAdr
+dWJlLWNhMB4XDTE2MTAxOTE2MDUxOFoXDTE3MTAxOTE2MDUxOFowFTETMBEGA1UE
+AwwKa3ViZS1hZG1pbjCCASIwDQYJKoZIhvcNAQEBBQADggEPADCCAQoCggEBAMTw
+a7wCFoiCad/N53aURfjrme+KR7FS0yf5Ur9OR/oM3BoS9stYu5Flzr35oL5T6t5G
+c2ey78mUs/Cs07psnjUdKH55bDpJSdG7zW9mXNyeLwIefFcj/38SS5NBSotmLo8u
+scJMGXeQpCQtfVuVJSP2bfU5u5d0KTLSg/Cor6UYonqrRB82HbOuuk8Wjaww4VHo
+nCq7X8o948V6HN5ZibQOgMMo+nf0wORREHBjvwc4W7ewbaTcfoe1VNAo/QnkqxTF
+ueMb2HxgghArqQSK8b44O05V0zrde25dVnmnte6sPjcV0plqMJ37jViISxsOPUFh
+/ZW7zbIM/7CMcDekCiECAwEAATANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQsFAAOCAQEAYZE8OxwRR7GR
+kdd5aIriDwWfcl56cq5ICyx87U8hAZhBxk46a6a901LZPzt3xKyWIFQSRj/NYiQ+
+/thjGLZI2lhkVgYtyAD4BNxDiuppQSCbkjY9tLVDdExGttEVN7+UYDWJBHy6X16Y
+xSG9FE3Dvp9LI89Nq8E3dRh+Q8wu52q9HaQXjS5YtzQOtDFKPBkihXu/c6gEHj4Y
+bZVk8rFiH8/CvcQxAuvNI3VVCFUKd2LeQtqwYQQ//qoiuA15krTq5Ut9eXJ8zxAw
+zhDEPP4FhY+Sz+y1yWirphl7A1aZwhXVPcfWIGqpQ3jzNwUeocbH27kuLh+U4hQo
+qeg10RdFnw==
+-----END CERTIFICATE-----`
+	path = filepath.Join(tempDir, "cert.pem")
+	if err = ioutil.WriteFile(path, []byte(data), 0644); err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
+	}
+
+	data = `-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----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+-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----`
+	path = filepath.Join(tempDir, "key.pem")
+	if err = ioutil.WriteFile(path, []byte(data), 0644); err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
+	}
+
+	rmFunc := func() { os.RemoveAll(tempDir) }
+	return tempDir, rmFunc, nil
+}
diff --git a/middleware/tls/tls.go b/middleware/tls/tls.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7ec30c4ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/middleware/tls/tls.go
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+package tls
+
+import (
+	"crypto/tls"
+	"crypto/x509"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
+)
+
+// NewTLSConfigFromArgs returns a TLS config based upon the passed
+// in list of arguments. Typically these come straight from the
+// Corefile.
+// no args
+//  - creates a Config with no cert and using system CAs
+//  - use for a client that talks to a server with a public signed cert (CA installed in system)
+//  - the client will not be authenticated by the server since there is no cert
+// one arg: the path to CA PEM file
+//  - creates a Config with no cert using a specific CA
+//  - use for a client that talks to a server with a private signed cert (CA not installed in system)
+//  - the client will not be authenticated by the server since there is no cert
+// two args: path to cert PEM file, the path to private key PEM file
+//  - creates a Config with a cert, using system CAs to validate the other end
+//  - use for:
+//    - a server; or,
+//    - a client that talks to a server with a public cert and needs certificate-based authentication
+//  - the other end will authenticate this end via the provided cert
+//  - the cert of the other end will be verified via system CAs
+// three args: path to cert PEM file, path to client private key PEM file, path to CA PEM file
+//  - creates a Config with the cert, using specified CA to validate the other end
+//  - use for:
+//    - a server; or,
+//    - a client that talks to a server with a privately signed cert and needs certificate-based
+//      authentication
+//  - the other end will authenticate this end via the provided cert
+//  - this end will verify the other end's cert using the specified CA
+func NewTLSConfigFromArgs(args ...string) (*tls.Config, error) {
+	var err error
+	var c *tls.Config
+	switch len(args) {
+	case 0:
+		// No client cert, use system CA
+		c, err = NewTLSClientConfig("")
+	case 1:
+		// No client cert, use specified CA
+		c, err = NewTLSClientConfig(args[0])
+	case 2:
+		// Client cert, use system CA
+		c, err = NewTLSConfig(args[0], args[1], "")
+	case 3:
+		// Client cert, use specified CA
+		c, err = NewTLSConfig(args[0], args[1], args[2])
+	default:
+		err = fmt.Errorf("Maximum of three arguments allowed for TLS config, found %d", len(args))
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return c, nil
+}
+
+// NewTLSConfig returns a TLS config that includes a certificate
+// Use for server TLS config or when using a client certificate
+// If caPath is empty, system CAs will be used
+func NewTLSConfig(certPath, keyPath, caPath string) (*tls.Config, error) {
+	cert, err := tls.LoadX509KeyPair(certPath, keyPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Could not load TLS cert: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	roots, err := loadRoots(caPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return &tls.Config{Certificates: []tls.Certificate{cert}, RootCAs: roots}, nil
+}
+
+// NewTLSClientConfig returns a TLS config for a client connection
+// If caPath is empty, system CAs will be used
+func NewTLSClientConfig(caPath string) (*tls.Config, error) {
+	roots, err := loadRoots(caPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return &tls.Config{RootCAs: roots}, nil
+}
+
+func loadRoots(caPath string) (*x509.CertPool, error) {
+	if caPath == "" {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	roots := x509.NewCertPool()
+	pem, err := ioutil.ReadFile(caPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Error reading %s: %s", caPath, err)
+	}
+	ok := roots.AppendCertsFromPEM(pem)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Could not read root certs: %s", err)
+	}
+	return roots, nil
+}
diff --git a/middleware/tls/tls_test.go b/middleware/tls/tls_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fb8d6247f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/middleware/tls/tls_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+package tls
+
+import (
+        "testing"
+        "path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/miekg/coredns/middleware/test"
+)
+
+func getPEMFiles(t *testing.T) (rmFunc func(), cert, key, ca string) {
+	tempDir, rmFunc, err := test.WritePEMFiles("")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Could not write PEM files: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	cert = filepath.Join(tempDir, "cert.pem")
+	key = filepath.Join(tempDir, "key.pem")
+	ca = filepath.Join(tempDir, "ca.pem")
+
+	return
+}
+
+func TestNewTLSConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	rmFunc, cert, key, ca := getPEMFiles(t)
+	defer rmFunc()
+
+	_, err := NewTLSConfig(cert, key, ca)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Failed to create TLSConfig: %s", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewTLSClientConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	rmFunc, _, _, ca := getPEMFiles(t)
+	defer rmFunc()
+
+	_, err := NewTLSClientConfig(ca)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Failed to create TLSConfig: %s", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewTLSConfigFromArgs(t *testing.T) {
+	rmFunc, cert, key, ca := getPEMFiles(t)
+	defer rmFunc()
+
+	_, err := NewTLSConfigFromArgs()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Failed to create TLSConfig: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	c, err := NewTLSConfigFromArgs(ca)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Failed to create TLSConfig: %s", err)
+	}
+	if c.RootCAs == nil {
+		t.Error("RootCAs should not be nil when one arg passed")
+	}
+
+	c, err = NewTLSConfigFromArgs(cert,key)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Failed to create TLSConfig: %s", err)
+	}
+	if c.RootCAs != nil {
+		t.Error("RootCAs should be nil when two args passed")
+	}
+	if len(c.Certificates) != 1 {
+		t.Error("Certificates should have a single entry when two args passed")
+	}
+	args := []string{cert,key,ca}
+	c, err = NewTLSConfigFromArgs(args...)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Failed to create TLSConfig: %s", err)
+	}
+	if c.RootCAs == nil {
+		t.Error("RootCAs should not be nil when three args passed")
+	}
+	if len(c.Certificates) != 1 {
+		t.Error("Certificateis should have a single entry when three args passed")
+	}
+}