diff --git a/src/crypto/crypto.js b/src/crypto/crypto.js
index 73568598..784ae0f6 100644
--- a/src/crypto/crypto.js
+++ b/src/crypto/crypto.js
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ export default {
     }
   },
 
-  generateMpi: function(algo, bits, curve) {
+  generateMpi: function(algo, bits, curve, material) {
     switch (algo) {
       case 'rsa_encrypt':
       case 'rsa_encrypt_sign':
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ export default {
         });
 
       case 'ecdsa':
-        return publicKey.elliptic.generate(curve).then(function (key) {
+        return publicKey.elliptic.generate(curve, material).then(function (key) {
           return [
             new type_oid(key.oid),
             BigInteger2mpi(key.R),
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ export default {
         });
 
       case 'ecdh':
-        return publicKey.elliptic.generate(curve).then(function (key) {
+        return publicKey.elliptic.generate(curve, material).then(function (key) {
           return [
             new type_oid(key.oid),
             BigInteger2mpi(key.R),
diff --git a/src/crypto/public_key/elliptic/curves.js b/src/crypto/public_key/elliptic/curves.js
index c6b33477..faabd656 100644
--- a/src/crypto/public_key/elliptic/curves.js
+++ b/src/crypto/public_key/elliptic/curves.js
@@ -97,10 +97,15 @@ function get(oid_or_name) {
   throw new Error('Not valid curve');
 }
 
-function generate(curve) {
+function generate(curve, material) {
   return new Promise(function (resolve) {
     curve = get(curve);
-    var keyPair = curve.genKeyPair();
+    var keyPair;
+    if (typeof(material) !== "undefined") {
+      keyPair = curve.keyFromPrivate(material);
+    } else {
+      keyPair = curve.genKeyPair();
+    }
     resolve({
       oid: curve.oid,
       R: new BigInteger(keyPair.getPublic()),
diff --git a/src/key.js b/src/key.js
index 1a6ae9b9..241326de 100644
--- a/src/key.js
+++ b/src/key.js
@@ -1139,7 +1139,11 @@ export function generate(options) {
   function generateSecretKey() {
     secretKeyPacket = new packet.SecretKey();
     secretKeyPacket.algorithm = enums.read(enums.publicKey, options.keyType);
-    return secretKeyPacket.generate(options.numBits, options.curve);
+    var material;
+    if (typeof(options.material) !== "undefined") {
+      material = options.material.key;
+    }
+    return secretKeyPacket.generate(options.numBits, options.curve, material);
   }
 
   function generateSecretSubkey() {
@@ -1148,8 +1152,12 @@ export function generate(options) {
     if (subkeyType === enums.publicKey.ecdsa) {
       subkeyType = enums.publicKey.ecdh;
     }
+    var material;
+    if (typeof(options.material) !== "undefined") {
+      material = options.material.subkey;
+    }
     secretSubkeyPacket.algorithm = enums.read(enums.publicKey, subkeyType);
-    return secretSubkeyPacket.generate(options.numBits, options.curve);
+    return secretSubkeyPacket.generate(options.numBits, options.curve, material);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/openpgp.js b/src/openpgp.js
index 88074dfd..acb8e737 100644
--- a/src/openpgp.js
+++ b/src/openpgp.js
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ export function destroyWorker() {
  * @static
  */
 
-export function generateKey({ userIds=[], passphrase, numBits=2048, unlocked=false, curve=null } = {}) {
-  const options = formatUserIds({ userIds, passphrase, numBits, unlocked, curve });
+export function generateKey({ userIds=[], passphrase, numBits=2048, unlocked=false, curve=null, material=null } = {}) {
+  const options = formatUserIds({ userIds, passphrase, numBits, unlocked, curve, material });
 
   if (!util.getWebCryptoAll() && asyncProxy) { // use web worker if web crypto apis are not supported
     return asyncProxy.delegate('generateKey', options);
@@ -459,6 +459,9 @@ function formatUserIds(options) {
   if (!options.curve) {
     delete options.curve;
   }
+  if (!options.material) {
+    delete options.material;
+  }
   if (!options.userIds) {
     return options;
   }
diff --git a/src/packet/secret_key.js b/src/packet/secret_key.js
index 8e525e41..ea1bd246 100644
--- a/src/packet/secret_key.js
+++ b/src/packet/secret_key.js
@@ -273,10 +273,10 @@ SecretKey.prototype.decrypt = function (passphrase) {
   return true;
 };
 
-SecretKey.prototype.generate = function (bits, curve) {
+SecretKey.prototype.generate = function (bits, curve, material) {
   var self = this;
 
-  return crypto.generateMpi(self.algorithm, bits, curve).then(function(mpi) {
+  return crypto.generateMpi(self.algorithm, bits, curve, material).then(function(mpi) {
     self.mpi = mpi;
     self.isDecrypted = true;
   });