diff --git a/.npmignore b/.npmignore
deleted file mode 100644
index ac0bfb9..0000000
--- a/.npmignore
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-test/
-.travis.yml
diff --git a/History.md b/History.md
index 28be558..2ebf063 100644
--- a/History.md
+++ b/History.md
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+0.6.x
+=====
+
+  * Add `secure` constructor option for secure connection checking
+  * Change constructor to signature `new Cookies(req, res, [options])`
+    - Replace `new Cookies(req, res, key)` with `new Cookies(req, res, {'keys': keys})`
+  * Change prototype construction for proper "constructor" property
+  * Deprecate `secureProxy` option in `.set`; use `secure` option instead
+    - If `secure: true` throws even over SSL, use the `secure` constructor option
+
 0.5.1 / 2014-07-27
 ==================
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c6e4c61..f53ea4e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 Cookies
 =======
 
-[![NPM Version](https://badge.fury.io/js/cookies.svg)](https://badge.fury.io/js/cookies)
-[![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/pillarjs/cookies.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/pillarjs/cookies)
+[![NPM Version][npm-image]][npm-url]
+[![NPM Downloads][downloads-image]][downloads-url]
+[![Node.js Version][node-version-image]][node-version-url]
+[![Build Status][travis-image]][travis-url]
 
 Cookies is a [node.js](http://nodejs.org/) module for getting and setting HTTP(S) cookies. Cookies can be signed to prevent tampering, using [Keygrip](https://www.npmjs.com/package/keygrip). It can be used with the built-in node.js HTTP library, or as Connect/Express middleware.
 
@@ -26,9 +28,13 @@ Cookies is a [node.js](http://nodejs.org/) module for getting and setting HTTP(S
 
 ## API
 
-### cookies = new Cookies( request, response, [ keys ] )
+### cookies = new Cookies( request, response, [ options ] )
 
-This creates a cookie jar corresponding to the current _request_ and _response_. A [Keygrip](https://www.npmjs.com/package/keygrip) object or an array of keys can optionally be passed as the third argument _keygrip_ to enable cryptographic signing based on SHA1 HMAC, using rotated credentials.
+This creates a cookie jar corresponding to the current _request_ and _response_, additionally passing an object _options_.
+
+A [Keygrip](https://www.npmjs.com/package/keygrip) object or an array of keys can optionally be passed as _options.keys_ to enable cryptographic signing based on SHA1 HMAC, using rotated credentials.
+
+A Boolean can optionally be passed as _options.secure_ to explicitally specify if the connection is secure, rather than this module examining _request_.
 
 Note that since this only saves parameters without any other processing, it is very lightweight. Cookies are only parsed on demand when they are accessed.
 
@@ -61,7 +67,6 @@ If the _options_ object is provided, it will be used to generate the outbound co
 * `path`: a string indicating the path of the cookie (`/` by default).
 * `domain`: a string indicating the domain of the cookie (no default).
 * `secure`: a boolean indicating whether the cookie is only to be sent over HTTPS (`false` by default for HTTP, `true` by default for HTTPS).
-* `secureProxy`: a boolean indicating whether the cookie is only to be sent over HTTPS (use this if you handle SSL not in your node process).
 * `httpOnly`: a boolean indicating whether the cookie is only to be sent over HTTP(S), and not made available to client JavaScript (`true` by default).
 * `signed`: a boolean indicating whether the cookie is to be signed (`false` by default). If this is true, another cookie of the same name with the `.sig` suffix appended will also be sent, with a 27-byte url-safe base64 SHA1 value representing the hash of _cookie-name_=_cookie-value_ against the first [Keygrip](https://www.npmjs.com/package/keygrip) key. This signature key is used to detect tampering the next time a cookie is received.
 * `overwrite`: a boolean indicating whether to overwrite previously set cookies of the same name (`false` by default). If this is true, all cookies set during the same request with the same name (regardless of path or domain) are filtered out of the Set-Cookie header when setting this cookie.
@@ -73,7 +78,7 @@ var http    = require( "http" )
 var Cookies = require( "cookies" )
 
 server = http.createServer( function( req, res ) {
-  var cookies = new Cookies( req, res, keys )
+  var cookies = new Cookies( req, res, { "keys": keys } )
     , unsigned, signed, tampered
 
   if ( req.url == "/set" ) {
@@ -119,3 +124,12 @@ Copyright
 Copyright (c) 2014 Jed Schmidt. See LICENSE.txt for details.
 
 Send any questions or comments [here](http://twitter.com/jedschmidt).
+
+[npm-image]: https://img.shields.io/npm/v/cookies.svg
+[npm-url]: https://npmjs.org/package/cookies
+[downloads-image]: https://img.shields.io/npm/dm/cookies.svg
+[downloads-url]: https://npmjs.org/package/cookies
+[node-version-image]: https://img.shields.io/node/v/cookies.svg
+[node-version-url]: https://nodejs.org/en/download/
+[travis-image]: https://img.shields.io/travis/pillarjs/cookies/master.svg
+[travis-url]: https://travis-ci.org/pillarjs/cookies
diff --git a/lib/cookies.js b/lib/cookies.js
index 201b93c..871abf0 100644
--- a/lib/cookies.js
+++ b/lib/cookies.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+var deprecate = require('depd')('cookies')
 var Keygrip = require('keygrip')
 var http = require('http')
 var cache = {}
@@ -12,82 +13,93 @@ var cache = {}
 
 var fieldContentRegExp = /^[\u0009\u0020-\u007e\u0080-\u00ff]+$/;
 
-function Cookies(request, response, keys) {
-  if (!(this instanceof Cookies)) return new Cookies(request, response, keys)
+function Cookies(request, response, options) {
+  if (!(this instanceof Cookies)) return new Cookies(request, response, options)
 
+  this.secure = undefined
   this.request = request
   this.response = response
-  if (keys) {
-    // array of key strings
-    if (Array.isArray(keys))
-      this.keys = new Keygrip(keys)
-    // any keygrip constructor to allow different versions
-    else if (keys.constructor && keys.constructor.name === 'Keygrip')
-      this.keys = keys
+
+  if (options) {
+    if (Array.isArray(options)) {
+      // array of key strings
+      deprecate('"keys" argument; provide using options {"key": [...]}')
+      this.keys = new Keygrip(options)
+    } else if (options.constructor && options.constructor.name === 'Keygrip') {
+      // any keygrip constructor to allow different versions
+      deprecate('"keys" argument; provide using options {"key": keygrip}')
+      this.keys = options
+    } else {
+      this.keys = options.keys
+      this.secure = options.secure
+    }
   }
 }
 
-Cookies.prototype = {
-  get: function(name, opts) {
-    var sigName = name + ".sig"
-      , header, match, value, remote, data, index
-      , signed = opts && opts.signed !== undefined ? opts.signed : !!this.keys
+Cookies.prototype.get = function(name, opts) {
+  var sigName = name + ".sig"
+    , header, match, value, remote, data, index
+    , signed = opts && opts.signed !== undefined ? opts.signed : !!this.keys
 
-    header = this.request.headers["cookie"]
-    if (!header) return
+  header = this.request.headers["cookie"]
+  if (!header) return
 
-    match = header.match(getPattern(name))
-    if (!match) return
+  match = header.match(getPattern(name))
+  if (!match) return
 
-    value = match[1]
-    if (!opts || !signed) return value
+  value = match[1]
+  if (!opts || !signed) return value
 
-    remote = this.get(sigName)
-    if (!remote) return
+  remote = this.get(sigName)
+  if (!remote) return
 
-    data = name + "=" + value
-    if (!this.keys) throw new Error('.keys required for signed cookies');
-    index = this.keys.index(data, remote)
+  data = name + "=" + value
+  if (!this.keys) throw new Error('.keys required for signed cookies');
+  index = this.keys.index(data, remote)
 
-    if (index < 0) {
-      this.set(sigName, null, {path: "/", signed: false })
-    } else {
-      index && this.set(sigName, this.keys.sign(data), { signed: false })
-      return value
-    }
-  },
+  if (index < 0) {
+    this.set(sigName, null, {path: "/", signed: false })
+  } else {
+    index && this.set(sigName, this.keys.sign(data), { signed: false })
+    return value
+  }
+};
 
-  set: function(name, value, opts) {
-    var res = this.response
-      , req = this.request
-      , headers = res.getHeader("Set-Cookie") || []
-      , secure = req.protocol === 'https' || req.connection.encrypted
-      , cookie = new Cookie(name, value, opts)
-      , signed = opts && opts.signed !== undefined ? opts.signed : !!this.keys
+Cookies.prototype.set = function(name, value, opts) {
+  var res = this.response
+    , req = this.request
+    , headers = res.getHeader("Set-Cookie") || []
+    , secure = this.secure !== undefined ? !!this.secure : req.protocol === 'https' || req.connection.encrypted
+    , cookie = new Cookie(name, value, opts)
+    , signed = opts && opts.signed !== undefined ? opts.signed : !!this.keys
 
-    if (typeof headers == "string") headers = [headers]
+  if (typeof headers == "string") headers = [headers]
 
-    if (!secure && opts && opts.secure) {
-      throw new Error('Cannot send secure cookie over unencrypted connection')
-    }
+  if (!secure && opts && opts.secure) {
+    throw new Error('Cannot send secure cookie over unencrypted connection')
+  }
 
-    cookie.secure = secure
-    if (opts && "secure" in opts) cookie.secure = opts.secure
-    if (opts && "secureProxy" in opts) cookie.secure = opts.secureProxy
-    headers = pushCookie(headers, cookie)
+  cookie.secure = secure
+  if (opts && "secure" in opts) cookie.secure = opts.secure
 
-    if (opts && signed) {
-      if (!this.keys) throw new Error('.keys required for signed cookies');
-      cookie.value = this.keys.sign(cookie.toString())
-      cookie.name += ".sig"
-      headers = pushCookie(headers, cookie)
-    }
+  if (opts && "secureProxy" in opts) {
+    deprecate('"secureProxy" option; use "secure" option, provide "secure" to constructor if needed')
+    cookie.secure = opts.secureProxy
+  }
+
+  headers = pushCookie(headers, cookie)
 
-    var setHeader = res.set ? http.OutgoingMessage.prototype.setHeader : res.setHeader
-    setHeader.call(res, 'Set-Cookie', headers)
-    return this
+  if (opts && signed) {
+    if (!this.keys) throw new Error('.keys required for signed cookies');
+    cookie.value = this.keys.sign(cookie.toString())
+    cookie.name += ".sig"
+    headers = pushCookie(headers, cookie)
   }
-}
+
+  var setHeader = res.set ? http.OutgoingMessage.prototype.setHeader : res.setHeader
+  setHeader.call(res, 'Set-Cookie', headers)
+  return this
+};
 
 function Cookie(name, value, attrs) {
   if (!fieldContentRegExp.test(name)) {
@@ -116,32 +128,30 @@ function Cookie(name, value, attrs) {
   }
 }
 
-Cookie.prototype = {
-  path: "/",
-  expires: undefined,
-  domain: undefined,
-  httpOnly: true,
-  secure: false,
-  overwrite: false,
+Cookie.prototype.path = "/";
+Cookie.prototype.expires = undefined;
+Cookie.prototype.domain = undefined;
+Cookie.prototype.httpOnly = true;
+Cookie.prototype.secure = false;
+Cookie.prototype.overwrite = false;
 
-  toString: function() {
-    return this.name + "=" + this.value
-  },
+Cookie.prototype.toString = function() {
+  return this.name + "=" + this.value
+};
 
-  toHeader: function() {
-    var header = this.toString()
+Cookie.prototype.toHeader = function() {
+  var header = this.toString()
 
-    if (this.maxAge) this.expires = new Date(Date.now() + this.maxAge);
+  if (this.maxAge) this.expires = new Date(Date.now() + this.maxAge);
 
-    if (this.path     ) header += "; path=" + this.path
-    if (this.expires  ) header += "; expires=" + this.expires.toUTCString()
-    if (this.domain   ) header += "; domain=" + this.domain
-    if (this.secure   ) header += "; secure"
-    if (this.httpOnly ) header += "; httponly"
+  if (this.path     ) header += "; path=" + this.path
+  if (this.expires  ) header += "; expires=" + this.expires.toUTCString()
+  if (this.domain   ) header += "; domain=" + this.domain
+  if (this.secure   ) header += "; secure"
+  if (this.httpOnly ) header += "; httponly"
 
-    return header
-  }
-}
+  return header
+};
 
 // back-compat so maxage mirrors maxAge
 Object.defineProperty(Cookie.prototype, 'maxage', {
@@ -171,7 +181,10 @@ function pushCookie(cookies, cookie) {
 
 Cookies.connect = Cookies.express = function(keys) {
   return function(req, res, next) {
-    req.cookies = res.cookies = new Cookies(req, res, keys)
+    req.cookies = res.cookies = new Cookies(req, res, {
+      keys: keys
+    })
+
     next()
   }
 }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 284727c..b578902 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   "description": "Cookies, optionally signed using Keygrip.",
   "main": "./lib/cookies",
   "dependencies": {
+    "depd": "~1.1.0",
     "keygrip": "~1.0.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
@@ -12,13 +13,19 @@
     "restify": "2.8.1",
     "supertest": "1.1.0"
   },
-  "engines": {
-    "node": ">= 0.8.0"
-  },
   "license": "MIT",
   "author": "Jed Schmidt <tr@nslator.jp> (http://jed.is)",
   "repository": "pillarjs/cookies",
+  "files": [
+    "lib/",
+    "History.md",
+    "LICENSE.txt",
+    "README.md"
+  ],
+  "engines": {
+    "node": ">= 0.8"
+  },
   "scripts": {
-    "test": "mocha --reporter spec"
+    "test": "mocha --require test/support/env --reporter spec"
   }
 }
diff --git a/test/cookie.js b/test/cookie.js
index 994d566..38c61bb 100644
--- a/test/cookie.js
+++ b/test/cookie.js
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@ var assert = require('assert')
 var cookies = require('..')
 
 describe('new Cookie', function () {
+  it('should have correct constructor', function () {
+    var cookie = new cookies.Cookie('foo', 'bar')
+    assert.equal(cookie.constructor, cookies.Cookie)
+  })
+
   it('should throw on invalid name', function () {
     assert.throws(function () {
       new cookies.Cookie('foo\n', 'bar')
diff --git a/test/http.js b/test/http.js
index cbb2d50..38fcd44 100644
--- a/test/http.js
+++ b/test/http.js
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ describe('HTTP', function () {
       var cookies = new Cookies( req, res, keys )
         , unsigned, signed, tampered, overwrite
 
+      assert.equal( cookies.constructor, Cookies )
+
       if ( req.url == "/set" ) {
         cookies
           // set a regular cookie
@@ -80,4 +82,46 @@ describe('HTTP', function () {
     .set('Cookie', header.join(';'))
     .expect(200, done)
   })
+
+  describe('with "secure" option', function () {
+    it('should check connection when undefined; unencrypted', function (done) {
+      request(createServer( "http", { "keys": keys } ))
+      .get('/')
+      .expect(500, 'Cannot send secure cookie over unencrypted connection', done)
+    })
+
+    it('should check connection when undefined; encrypted', function (done) {
+      request(createServer( "https", { "keys": keys } ))
+      .get('/')
+      .expect(200, done)
+    })
+
+    it('should not check connection when defined; true', function (done) {
+      request(createServer( "http", { "keys": keys, "secure": true } ))
+      .get('/')
+      .expect(200, done)
+    })
+
+    it('should not check connection when defined; false', function (done) {
+      request(createServer( "https", { "keys": keys, "secure": false } ))
+      .get('/')
+      .expect(500, 'Cannot send secure cookie over unencrypted connection', done)
+    })
+  })
 })
+
+function createServer(proto, opts) {
+  return http.createServer(function (req, res) {
+    var cookies = new Cookies( req, res, opts )
+    req.protocol = proto
+
+    try {
+      cookies.set( "foo", "bar", { "secure": true } )
+    } catch (e) {
+      res.statusCode = 500
+      res.write(e.message)
+    }
+
+    res.end()
+  })
+}
diff --git a/test/support/env.js b/test/support/env.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1fb2f30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/support/env.js
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+process.env.NODE_ENV = 'test'
+process.env.NO_DEPRECATION = 'cookies'