diff --git a/src/openpgp.js b/src/openpgp.js
index 6c9b0f01..0664d8c5 100644
--- a/src/openpgp.js
+++ b/src/openpgp.js
@@ -70,11 +70,11 @@ export function destroyWorker() {
 }
 
 
-////////////////////////////
-//                        //
-//   Keypair generation   //
-//                        //
-////////////////////////////
+//////////////////////
+//                  //
+//   Key handling   //
+//                  //
+//////////////////////
 
 
 /**
@@ -115,6 +115,29 @@ export function generateKey({ userIds=[], passphrase, numBits=2048, unlocked=fal
   }).catch(onError.bind(null, 'Error generating keypair'));
 }
 
+/**
+ * Unlock a private key with your passphrase.
+ * @param {Key} privateKey      the private key that is to be decrypted
+ * @param {String} passphrase   the user's passphrase chosen during key generation
+ * @return {Key}                the unlocked private key
+ */
+export function decryptKey({ privateKey, passphrase }) {
+  if (asyncProxy) { // use web worker if available
+    return asyncProxy.delegate('decryptKey', { privateKey, passphrase });
+  }
+
+  return execute(() => {
+
+    if (!privateKey.decrypt(passphrase)) {
+      throw new Error('Invalid passphrase');
+    }
+    return {
+      key: privateKey
+    };
+
+  }, 'Error decrypting private key');
+}
+
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////
 //                                       //
diff --git a/test/general/openpgp.js b/test/general/openpgp.js
index da301389..52d77186 100644
--- a/test/general/openpgp.js
+++ b/test/general/openpgp.js
@@ -6,6 +6,76 @@ var sinon = require('sinon'),
   chai = require('chai'),
   expect = chai.expect;
 
+var pub_key =
+    ['-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----',
+    'Version: GnuPG v2.0.19 (GNU/Linux)',
+    '',
+    'mI0EUmEvTgEEANyWtQQMOybQ9JltDqmaX0WnNPJeLILIM36sw6zL0nfTQ5zXSS3+',
+    'fIF6P29lJFxpblWk02PSID5zX/DYU9/zjM2xPO8Oa4xo0cVTOTLj++Ri5mtr//f5',
+    'GLsIXxFrBJhD/ghFsL3Op0GXOeLJ9A5bsOn8th7x6JucNKuaRB6bQbSPABEBAAG0',
+    'JFRlc3QgTWNUZXN0aW5ndG9uIDx0ZXN0QGV4YW1wbGUuY29tPoi5BBMBAgAjBQJS',
+    'YS9OAhsvBwsJCAcDAgEGFQgCCQoLBBYCAwECHgECF4AACgkQSmNhOk1uQJQwDAP6',
+    'AgrTyqkRlJVqz2pb46TfbDM2TDF7o9CBnBzIGoxBhlRwpqALz7z2kxBDmwpQa+ki',
+    'Bq3jZN/UosY9y8bhwMAlnrDY9jP1gdCo+H0sD48CdXybblNwaYpwqC8VSpDdTndf',
+    '9j2wE/weihGp/DAdy/2kyBCaiOY1sjhUfJ1GogF49rC4jQRSYS9OAQQA6R/PtBFa',
+    'JaT4jq10yqASk4sqwVMsc6HcifM5lSdxzExFP74naUMMyEsKHP53QxTF0Grqusag',
+    'Qg/ZtgT0CN1HUM152y7ACOdp1giKjpMzOTQClqCoclyvWOFB+L/SwGEIJf7LSCEr',
+    'woBuJifJc8xAVr0XX0JthoW+uP91eTQ3XpsAEQEAAYkBPQQYAQIACQUCUmEvTgIb',
+    'LgCoCRBKY2E6TW5AlJ0gBBkBAgAGBQJSYS9OAAoJEOCE90RsICyXuqIEANmmiRCA',
+    'SF7YK7PvFkieJNwzeK0V3F2lGX+uu6Y3Q/Zxdtwc4xR+me/CSBmsURyXTO29OWhP',
+    'GLszPH9zSJU9BdDi6v0yNprmFPX/1Ng0Abn/sCkwetvjxC1YIvTLFwtUL/7v6NS2',
+    'bZpsUxRTg9+cSrMWWSNjiY9qUKajm1tuzPDZXAUEAMNmAN3xXN/Kjyvj2OK2ck0X',
+    'W748sl/tc3qiKPMJ+0AkMF7Pjhmh9nxqE9+QCEl7qinFqqBLjuzgUhBU4QlwX1GD',
+    'AtNTq6ihLMD5v1d82ZC7tNatdlDMGWnIdvEMCv2GZcuIqDQ9rXWs49e7tq1NncLY',
+    'hz3tYjKhoFTKEIq3y3Pp',
+    '=h/aX',
+    '-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----'].join('\n');
+
+var priv_key =
+    ['-----BEGIN PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK-----',
+    'Version: GnuPG v2.0.19 (GNU/Linux)',
+    '',
+    'lQH+BFJhL04BBADclrUEDDsm0PSZbQ6pml9FpzTyXiyCyDN+rMOsy9J300Oc10kt',
+    '/nyBej9vZSRcaW5VpNNj0iA+c1/w2FPf84zNsTzvDmuMaNHFUzky4/vkYuZra//3',
+    '+Ri7CF8RawSYQ/4IRbC9zqdBlzniyfQOW7Dp/LYe8eibnDSrmkQem0G0jwARAQAB',
+    '/gMDAu7L//czBpE40p1ZqO8K3k7UejemjsQqc7kOqnlDYd1Z6/3NEA/UM30Siipr',
+    'KjdIFY5+hp0hcs6EiiNq0PDfm/W2j+7HfrZ5kpeQVxDek4irezYZrl7JS2xezaLv',
+    'k0Fv/6fxasnFtjOM6Qbstu67s5Gpl9y06ZxbP3VpT62+Xeibn/swWrfiJjuGEEhM',
+    'bgnsMpHtzAz/L8y6KSzViG/05hBaqrvk3/GeEA6nE+o0+0a6r0LYLTemmq6FbaA1',
+    'PHo+x7k7oFcBFUUeSzgx78GckuPwqr2mNfeF+IuSRnrlpZl3kcbHASPAOfEkyMXS',
+    'sWGE7grCAjbyQyM3OEXTSyqnehvGS/1RdB6kDDxGwgE/QFbwNyEh6K4eaaAThW2j',
+    'IEEI0WEnRkPi9fXyxhFsCLSI1XhqTaq7iDNqJTxE+AX2b9ZuZXAxI3Tc/7++vEyL',
+    '3p18N/MB2kt1Wb1azmXWL2EKlT1BZ5yDaJuBQ8BhphM3tCRUZXN0IE1jVGVzdGlu',
+    'Z3RvbiA8dGVzdEBleGFtcGxlLmNvbT6IuQQTAQIAIwUCUmEvTgIbLwcLCQgHAwIB',
+    'BhUIAgkKCwQWAgMBAh4BAheAAAoJEEpjYTpNbkCUMAwD+gIK08qpEZSVas9qW+Ok',
+    '32wzNkwxe6PQgZwcyBqMQYZUcKagC8+89pMQQ5sKUGvpIgat42Tf1KLGPcvG4cDA',
+    'JZ6w2PYz9YHQqPh9LA+PAnV8m25TcGmKcKgvFUqQ3U53X/Y9sBP8HooRqfwwHcv9',
+    'pMgQmojmNbI4VHydRqIBePawnQH+BFJhL04BBADpH8+0EVolpPiOrXTKoBKTiyrB',
+    'UyxzodyJ8zmVJ3HMTEU/vidpQwzISwoc/ndDFMXQauq6xqBCD9m2BPQI3UdQzXnb',
+    'LsAI52nWCIqOkzM5NAKWoKhyXK9Y4UH4v9LAYQgl/stIISvCgG4mJ8lzzEBWvRdf',
+    'Qm2Ghb64/3V5NDdemwARAQAB/gMDAu7L//czBpE40iPcpLzL7GwBbWFhSWgSLy53',
+    'Md99Kxw3cApWCok2E8R9/4VS0490xKZIa5y2I/K8thVhqk96Z8Kbt7MRMC1WLHgC',
+    'qJvkeQCI6PrFM0PUIPLHAQtDJYKtaLXxYuexcAdKzZj3FHdtLNWCooK6n3vJlL1c',
+    'WjZcHJ1PH7USlj1jup4XfxsbziuysRUSyXkjn92GZLm+64vCIiwhqAYoizF2NHHG',
+    'hRTN4gQzxrxgkeVchl+ag7DkQUDANIIVI+A63JeLJgWJiH1fbYlwESByHW+zBFNt',
+    'qStjfIOhjrfNIc3RvsggbDdWQLcbxmLZj4sB0ydPSgRKoaUdRHJY0S4vp9ouKOtl',
+    '2au/P1BP3bhD0fDXl91oeheYth+MSmsJFDg/vZJzCJhFaQ9dp+2EnjN5auNCNbaI',
+    'beFJRHFf9cha8p3hh+AK54NRCT++B2MXYf+TPwqX88jYMBv8kk8vYUgo8128r1zQ',
+    'EzjviQE9BBgBAgAJBQJSYS9OAhsuAKgJEEpjYTpNbkCUnSAEGQECAAYFAlJhL04A',
+    'CgkQ4IT3RGwgLJe6ogQA2aaJEIBIXtgrs+8WSJ4k3DN4rRXcXaUZf667pjdD9nF2',
+    '3BzjFH6Z78JIGaxRHJdM7b05aE8YuzM8f3NIlT0F0OLq/TI2muYU9f/U2DQBuf+w',
+    'KTB62+PELVgi9MsXC1Qv/u/o1LZtmmxTFFOD35xKsxZZI2OJj2pQpqObW27M8Nlc',
+    'BQQAw2YA3fFc38qPK+PY4rZyTRdbvjyyX+1zeqIo8wn7QCQwXs+OGaH2fGoT35AI',
+    'SXuqKcWqoEuO7OBSEFThCXBfUYMC01OrqKEswPm/V3zZkLu01q12UMwZach28QwK',
+    '/YZly4ioND2tdazj17u2rU2dwtiHPe1iMqGgVMoQirfLc+k=',
+    '=lw5e',
+    '-----END PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK-----'].join('\n');
+
+var passphrase = 'hello world';
+var plaintext = 'short message\nnext line\n한국어/조선말';
+var password1 = 'I am a password';
+var password2 = 'I am another password';
+
 describe('OpenPGP.js public api tests', function() {
 
   describe('initWorker, getWorker, destroyWorker - unit tests', function() {
@@ -265,76 +335,6 @@ describe('OpenPGP.js public api tests', function() {
   });
 
   describe('encrypt, decrypt, sign, verify - integration tests', function() {
-    var pub_key =
-       ['-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----',
-        'Version: GnuPG v2.0.19 (GNU/Linux)',
-        '',
-        'mI0EUmEvTgEEANyWtQQMOybQ9JltDqmaX0WnNPJeLILIM36sw6zL0nfTQ5zXSS3+',
-        'fIF6P29lJFxpblWk02PSID5zX/DYU9/zjM2xPO8Oa4xo0cVTOTLj++Ri5mtr//f5',
-        'GLsIXxFrBJhD/ghFsL3Op0GXOeLJ9A5bsOn8th7x6JucNKuaRB6bQbSPABEBAAG0',
-        'JFRlc3QgTWNUZXN0aW5ndG9uIDx0ZXN0QGV4YW1wbGUuY29tPoi5BBMBAgAjBQJS',
-        'YS9OAhsvBwsJCAcDAgEGFQgCCQoLBBYCAwECHgECF4AACgkQSmNhOk1uQJQwDAP6',
-        'AgrTyqkRlJVqz2pb46TfbDM2TDF7o9CBnBzIGoxBhlRwpqALz7z2kxBDmwpQa+ki',
-        'Bq3jZN/UosY9y8bhwMAlnrDY9jP1gdCo+H0sD48CdXybblNwaYpwqC8VSpDdTndf',
-        '9j2wE/weihGp/DAdy/2kyBCaiOY1sjhUfJ1GogF49rC4jQRSYS9OAQQA6R/PtBFa',
-        'JaT4jq10yqASk4sqwVMsc6HcifM5lSdxzExFP74naUMMyEsKHP53QxTF0Grqusag',
-        'Qg/ZtgT0CN1HUM152y7ACOdp1giKjpMzOTQClqCoclyvWOFB+L/SwGEIJf7LSCEr',
-        'woBuJifJc8xAVr0XX0JthoW+uP91eTQ3XpsAEQEAAYkBPQQYAQIACQUCUmEvTgIb',
-        'LgCoCRBKY2E6TW5AlJ0gBBkBAgAGBQJSYS9OAAoJEOCE90RsICyXuqIEANmmiRCA',
-        'SF7YK7PvFkieJNwzeK0V3F2lGX+uu6Y3Q/Zxdtwc4xR+me/CSBmsURyXTO29OWhP',
-        'GLszPH9zSJU9BdDi6v0yNprmFPX/1Ng0Abn/sCkwetvjxC1YIvTLFwtUL/7v6NS2',
-        'bZpsUxRTg9+cSrMWWSNjiY9qUKajm1tuzPDZXAUEAMNmAN3xXN/Kjyvj2OK2ck0X',
-        'W748sl/tc3qiKPMJ+0AkMF7Pjhmh9nxqE9+QCEl7qinFqqBLjuzgUhBU4QlwX1GD',
-        'AtNTq6ihLMD5v1d82ZC7tNatdlDMGWnIdvEMCv2GZcuIqDQ9rXWs49e7tq1NncLY',
-        'hz3tYjKhoFTKEIq3y3Pp',
-        '=h/aX',
-        '-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----'].join('\n');
-
-    var priv_key =
-        ['-----BEGIN PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK-----',
-        'Version: GnuPG v2.0.19 (GNU/Linux)',
-        '',
-        'lQH+BFJhL04BBADclrUEDDsm0PSZbQ6pml9FpzTyXiyCyDN+rMOsy9J300Oc10kt',
-        '/nyBej9vZSRcaW5VpNNj0iA+c1/w2FPf84zNsTzvDmuMaNHFUzky4/vkYuZra//3',
-        '+Ri7CF8RawSYQ/4IRbC9zqdBlzniyfQOW7Dp/LYe8eibnDSrmkQem0G0jwARAQAB',
-        '/gMDAu7L//czBpE40p1ZqO8K3k7UejemjsQqc7kOqnlDYd1Z6/3NEA/UM30Siipr',
-        'KjdIFY5+hp0hcs6EiiNq0PDfm/W2j+7HfrZ5kpeQVxDek4irezYZrl7JS2xezaLv',
-        'k0Fv/6fxasnFtjOM6Qbstu67s5Gpl9y06ZxbP3VpT62+Xeibn/swWrfiJjuGEEhM',
-        'bgnsMpHtzAz/L8y6KSzViG/05hBaqrvk3/GeEA6nE+o0+0a6r0LYLTemmq6FbaA1',
-        'PHo+x7k7oFcBFUUeSzgx78GckuPwqr2mNfeF+IuSRnrlpZl3kcbHASPAOfEkyMXS',
-        'sWGE7grCAjbyQyM3OEXTSyqnehvGS/1RdB6kDDxGwgE/QFbwNyEh6K4eaaAThW2j',
-        'IEEI0WEnRkPi9fXyxhFsCLSI1XhqTaq7iDNqJTxE+AX2b9ZuZXAxI3Tc/7++vEyL',
-        '3p18N/MB2kt1Wb1azmXWL2EKlT1BZ5yDaJuBQ8BhphM3tCRUZXN0IE1jVGVzdGlu',
-        'Z3RvbiA8dGVzdEBleGFtcGxlLmNvbT6IuQQTAQIAIwUCUmEvTgIbLwcLCQgHAwIB',
-        'BhUIAgkKCwQWAgMBAh4BAheAAAoJEEpjYTpNbkCUMAwD+gIK08qpEZSVas9qW+Ok',
-        '32wzNkwxe6PQgZwcyBqMQYZUcKagC8+89pMQQ5sKUGvpIgat42Tf1KLGPcvG4cDA',
-        'JZ6w2PYz9YHQqPh9LA+PAnV8m25TcGmKcKgvFUqQ3U53X/Y9sBP8HooRqfwwHcv9',
-        'pMgQmojmNbI4VHydRqIBePawnQH+BFJhL04BBADpH8+0EVolpPiOrXTKoBKTiyrB',
-        'UyxzodyJ8zmVJ3HMTEU/vidpQwzISwoc/ndDFMXQauq6xqBCD9m2BPQI3UdQzXnb',
-        'LsAI52nWCIqOkzM5NAKWoKhyXK9Y4UH4v9LAYQgl/stIISvCgG4mJ8lzzEBWvRdf',
-        'Qm2Ghb64/3V5NDdemwARAQAB/gMDAu7L//czBpE40iPcpLzL7GwBbWFhSWgSLy53',
-        'Md99Kxw3cApWCok2E8R9/4VS0490xKZIa5y2I/K8thVhqk96Z8Kbt7MRMC1WLHgC',
-        'qJvkeQCI6PrFM0PUIPLHAQtDJYKtaLXxYuexcAdKzZj3FHdtLNWCooK6n3vJlL1c',
-        'WjZcHJ1PH7USlj1jup4XfxsbziuysRUSyXkjn92GZLm+64vCIiwhqAYoizF2NHHG',
-        'hRTN4gQzxrxgkeVchl+ag7DkQUDANIIVI+A63JeLJgWJiH1fbYlwESByHW+zBFNt',
-        'qStjfIOhjrfNIc3RvsggbDdWQLcbxmLZj4sB0ydPSgRKoaUdRHJY0S4vp9ouKOtl',
-        '2au/P1BP3bhD0fDXl91oeheYth+MSmsJFDg/vZJzCJhFaQ9dp+2EnjN5auNCNbaI',
-        'beFJRHFf9cha8p3hh+AK54NRCT++B2MXYf+TPwqX88jYMBv8kk8vYUgo8128r1zQ',
-        'EzjviQE9BBgBAgAJBQJSYS9OAhsuAKgJEEpjYTpNbkCUnSAEGQECAAYFAlJhL04A',
-        'CgkQ4IT3RGwgLJe6ogQA2aaJEIBIXtgrs+8WSJ4k3DN4rRXcXaUZf667pjdD9nF2',
-        '3BzjFH6Z78JIGaxRHJdM7b05aE8YuzM8f3NIlT0F0OLq/TI2muYU9f/U2DQBuf+w',
-        'KTB62+PELVgi9MsXC1Qv/u/o1LZtmmxTFFOD35xKsxZZI2OJj2pQpqObW27M8Nlc',
-        'BQQAw2YA3fFc38qPK+PY4rZyTRdbvjyyX+1zeqIo8wn7QCQwXs+OGaH2fGoT35AI',
-        'SXuqKcWqoEuO7OBSEFThCXBfUYMC01OrqKEswPm/V3zZkLu01q12UMwZach28QwK',
-        '/YZly4ioND2tdazj17u2rU2dwtiHPe1iMqGgVMoQirfLc+k=',
-        '=lw5e',
-        '-----END PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK-----'].join('\n');
-
-    var passphrase = 'hello world';
-    var plaintext = 'short message\nnext line\n한국어/조선말';
-    var password1 = 'I am a password';
-    var password2 = 'I am another password';
-
     var privateKey, publicKey, zeroCopyVal;
 
     beforeEach(function() {
@@ -390,6 +390,29 @@ describe('OpenPGP.js public api tests', function() {
         });
       });
 
+      describe('decryptKey', function() {
+        it('should work for correct passphrase', function(done) {
+          openpgp.decryptKey({
+            privateKey: privateKey.keys[0],
+            passphrase: passphrase
+          }).then(function(unlocked){
+            expect(unlocked.key.primaryKey.getKeyId().toHex()).to.equal(privateKey.keys[0].primaryKey.getKeyId().toHex());
+            expect(unlocked.key.primaryKey.isDecrypted).to.be.true;
+            done();
+          });
+        });
+
+        it('should fail for incorrect passphrase', function(done) {
+          openpgp.decryptKey({
+            privateKey: privateKey.keys[0],
+            passphrase: 'incorrect'
+          }).catch(function(error){
+            expect(error.message).to.match(/Invalid passphrase/);
+            done();
+          });
+        });
+      });
+
       describe('with pgp key pair', function() {
         var wrong_pubkey = '-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----\r\n' +
           'Version: OpenPGP.js v0.9.0\r\n' +