diff --git a/core/lib.rs b/core/lib.rs
index e531a37b6..5b30f936d 100644
--- a/core/lib.rs
+++ b/core/lib.rs
@@ -1277,6 +1277,12 @@ impl Connection {
             std::fs::set_permissions(&opts.path, perms.permissions())?;
         }
         let conn = db.connect()?;
+        if let Some(cipher) = opts.cipher {
+            let _ = conn.pragma_update("cipher", format!("'{cipher}'"));
+        }
+        if let Some(hexkey) = opts.hexkey {
+            let _ = conn.pragma_update("hexkey", format!("'{hexkey}'"));
+        }
         Ok((io, conn))
     }
 
diff --git a/core/util.rs b/core/util.rs
index 7d22106a6..e2f06c325 100644
--- a/core/util.rs
+++ b/core/util.rs
@@ -740,6 +740,10 @@ pub struct OpenOptions<'a> {
     pub cache: CacheMode,
     /// immutable=1|0 specifies that the database is stored on read-only media
     pub immutable: bool,
+    // The encryption cipher
+    pub cipher: Option<String>,
+    // The encryption key in hex format
+    pub hexkey: Option<String>,
 }
 
 pub const MEMORY_PATH: &str = ":memory:";
@@ -890,6 +894,8 @@ fn parse_query_params(query: &str, opts: &mut OpenOptions) -> Result<()> {
                 "cache" => opts.cache = decoded_value.as_str().into(),
                 "immutable" => opts.immutable = decoded_value == "1",
                 "vfs" => opts.vfs = Some(decoded_value),
+                "cipher" => opts.cipher = Some(decoded_value),
+                "hexkey" => opts.hexkey = Some(decoded_value),
                 _ => {}
             }
         }