diff --git a/configs/baremetal.h b/configs/baremetal.h
index 465664279..b63584f1c 100644
--- a/configs/baremetal.h
+++ b/configs/baremetal.h
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@
 #define MBEDTLS_SSL_DTLS_HELLO_VERIFY
 #define MBEDTLS_SSL_DTLS_BADMAC_LIMIT
 #define MBEDTLS_SSL_DTLS_CONNECTION_ID
+#define MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS
 
 /* Compile-time fixed parts of the SSL configuration */
 #define MBEDTLS_SSL_CONF_CERT_REQ_CA_LIST MBEDTLS_SSL_CERT_REQ_CA_LIST_DISABLED
diff --git a/include/mbedtls/check_config.h b/include/mbedtls/check_config.h
index 7239557a0..f91f6b498 100644
--- a/include/mbedtls/check_config.h
+++ b/include/mbedtls/check_config.h
@@ -672,6 +672,11 @@
 #error "MBEDTLS_SSL_TLS_C defined, but neither TLS or DTLS is active"
 #endif
 
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TLS_C) && defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS) && \
+    defined(MBEDTLS_ARC4_C)
+#error "MBEDTLS_ARC4_C cannot be defined with MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS on"
+#endif
+
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TLS_C) && (defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_PROTO_SSL3) && \
     defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_PROTO_TLS1_1) && !defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_PROTO_TLS1))
 #error "Illegal protocol selection"
diff --git a/include/mbedtls/config.h b/include/mbedtls/config.h
index c4d98e42f..1cf868f50 100644
--- a/include/mbedtls/config.h
+++ b/include/mbedtls/config.h
@@ -3284,6 +3284,20 @@
  */
 #define MBEDTLS_SSL_TLS_C
 
+/**
+ * \def MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS
+ * Use one cipher context for both decryption and encryption in ssl transforms.
+ *
+ * This change saves some RAM, but makes the operations last longer:
+ * before every encryption and decryption a key is set on the context.
+ *
+ * This change will not work with MBEDTLS_ARC4_C, since it requires an
+ * additional table and offsets to be saved between cipher calls, and this
+ * contradicts key resetting before each use.
+ *
+ */
+//#define MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS
+
 /**
  * \def MBEDTLS_THREADING_C
  *
diff --git a/include/mbedtls/ssl_internal.h b/include/mbedtls/ssl_internal.h
index 19328d88f..40d246e9d 100644
--- a/include/mbedtls/ssl_internal.h
+++ b/include/mbedtls/ssl_internal.h
@@ -756,9 +756,15 @@ struct mbedtls_ssl_transform
     z_stream ctx_inflate;               /*!<  decompression context   */
 #endif
 
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+    unsigned char *key_enc;
+    unsigned char *key_dec;
+    unsigned int key_bitlen;
+    mbedtls_cipher_context_t cipher_ctx;        /*!<  encryption/decryption context */
+#else
     mbedtls_cipher_context_t cipher_ctx_enc;    /*!<  encryption context      */
     mbedtls_cipher_context_t cipher_ctx_dec;    /*!<  decryption context      */
-
+#endif
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_CONTEXT_SERIALIZATION)
     /* We need the Hello random bytes in order to re-derive keys from the
      * Master Secret and other session info, see ssl_populate_transform() */
diff --git a/library/ssl_tls.c b/library/ssl_tls.c
index 4ebfb5c93..2c363fd33 100644
--- a/library/ssl_tls.c
+++ b/library/ssl_tls.c
@@ -1563,7 +1563,21 @@ int ssl_populate_transform( mbedtls_ssl_transform *transform,
                                   iv_copy_len );
     }
 #endif
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+    if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_setup( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                                 cipher_info ) ) != 0 )
+    {
+        MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_setup", ret );
+        return( ret );
+    }
+    transform->key_enc = mbedtls_calloc( 1, cipher_info->key_bitlen >> 3 );
+    transform->key_dec = mbedtls_calloc( 1, cipher_info->key_bitlen >> 3 );
 
+    memcpy( transform->key_enc, key1, cipher_info->key_bitlen >> 3 );
+    memcpy( transform->key_dec, key2, cipher_info->key_bitlen >> 3 );
+
+    transform->key_bitlen = cipher_info->key_bitlen;
+#else
     if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_setup( &transform->cipher_ctx_enc,
                                  cipher_info ) ) != 0 )
     {
@@ -1593,10 +1607,18 @@ int ssl_populate_transform( mbedtls_ssl_transform *transform,
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_setkey", ret );
         return( ret );
     }
-
+#endif
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_CIPHER_MODE_CBC)
     if( cipher_info->mode == MBEDTLS_MODE_CBC )
     {
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_set_padding_mode( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                                             MBEDTLS_PADDING_NONE ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_set_padding_mode", ret );
+            return( ret );
+        }
+#else
         if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_set_padding_mode( &transform->cipher_ctx_enc,
                                              MBEDTLS_PADDING_NONE ) ) != 0 )
         {
@@ -1610,6 +1632,7 @@ int ssl_populate_transform( mbedtls_ssl_transform *transform,
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_set_padding_mode", ret );
             return( ret );
         }
+#endif
     }
 #endif /* MBEDTLS_CIPHER_MODE_CBC */
 
@@ -2554,9 +2577,11 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_encrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
     post_avail = rec->buf_len - ( rec->data_len + rec->data_offset );
     MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_BUF( 4, "before encrypt: output payload",
                            data, rec->data_len );
-
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+    mode = mbedtls_cipher_get_cipher_mode( &transform->cipher_ctx );
+#else
     mode = mbedtls_cipher_get_cipher_mode( &transform->cipher_ctx_enc );
-
+#endif
     if( rec->data_len > MBEDTLS_SSL_OUT_CONTENT_LEN )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "Record content %u too large, maximum %d",
@@ -2671,7 +2696,25 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_encrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 3, ( "before encrypt: msglen = %d, "
                                     "including %d bytes of padding",
                                     rec->data_len, 0 ) );
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_setkey( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                                           transform->key_enc,
+                                           transform->key_bitlen,
+                                           MBEDTLS_ENCRYPT ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_setkey", ret );
+            return( ret );
+        }
 
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_crypt( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                                   transform->iv_enc, transform->ivlen,
+                                   data, rec->data_len,
+                                   data, &olen ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_crypt", ret );
+            return( ret );
+        }
+#else
         if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_crypt( &transform->cipher_ctx_enc,
                                    transform->iv_enc, transform->ivlen,
                                    data, rec->data_len,
@@ -2680,7 +2723,7 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_encrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_crypt", ret );
             return( ret );
         }
-
+#endif
         if( rec->data_len != olen )
         {
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "should never happen" ) );
@@ -2754,7 +2797,27 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_encrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
         /*
          * Encrypt and authenticate
          */
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_setkey( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                                           transform->key_enc,
+                                           transform->key_bitlen,
+                                           MBEDTLS_ENCRYPT ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_setkey", ret );
+            return( ret );
+        }
 
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_auth_encrypt( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                   iv, transform->ivlen,
+                   add_data, add_data_len,       /* add data     */
+                   data, rec->data_len,          /* source       */
+                   data, &rec->data_len,         /* destination  */
+                   data + rec->data_len, transform->taglen ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_auth_encrypt", ret );
+            return( ret );
+        }
+#else
         if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_auth_encrypt( &transform->cipher_ctx_enc,
                    iv, transform->ivlen,
                    add_data, add_data_len,       /* add data     */
@@ -2765,7 +2828,7 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_encrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_auth_encrypt", ret );
             return( ret );
         }
-
+#endif
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_BUF( 4, "after encrypt: tag",
                                data + rec->data_len, transform->taglen );
 
@@ -2841,7 +2904,26 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_encrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
                             "including %d bytes of IV and %d bytes of padding",
                             rec->data_len, transform->ivlen,
                             padlen + 1 ) );
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_setkey( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                                           transform->key_enc,
+                                           transform->key_bitlen,
+                                           MBEDTLS_ENCRYPT ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_setkey", ret );
+            return( ret );
+        }
 
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_crypt( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                                   transform->iv_enc,
+                                   transform->ivlen,
+                                   data, rec->data_len,
+                                   data, &olen ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_crypt", ret );
+            return( ret );
+        }
+#else
         if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_crypt( &transform->cipher_ctx_enc,
                                    transform->iv_enc,
                                    transform->ivlen,
@@ -2851,7 +2933,7 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_encrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_crypt", ret );
             return( ret );
         }
-
+#endif
         if( rec->data_len != olen )
         {
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "should never happen" ) );
@@ -2866,8 +2948,13 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_encrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
             /*
              * Save IV in SSL3 and TLS1
              */
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+            mbedtls_platform_memcpy( transform->iv_enc, transform->cipher_ctx.iv,
+                    transform->ivlen );
+#else
             mbedtls_platform_memcpy( transform->iv_enc, transform->cipher_ctx_enc.iv,
                     transform->ivlen );
+#endif
         }
         else
 #endif
@@ -2968,8 +3055,11 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_decrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context const *ssl,
     }
 
     data = rec->buf + rec->data_offset;
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+    mode = mbedtls_cipher_get_cipher_mode( &transform->cipher_ctx );
+#else
     mode = mbedtls_cipher_get_cipher_mode( &transform->cipher_ctx_dec );
-
+#endif
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_DTLS_CONNECTION_ID)
     /*
      * Match record's CID with incoming CID.
@@ -2985,6 +3075,25 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_decrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context const *ssl,
     if( mode == MBEDTLS_MODE_STREAM )
     {
         padlen = 0;
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_setkey( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                                           transform->key_dec,
+                                           transform->key_bitlen,
+                                           MBEDTLS_DECRYPT ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_setkey", ret );
+            return( ret );
+        }
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_crypt( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                                   transform->iv_dec,
+                                   transform->ivlen,
+                                   data, rec->data_len,
+                                   data, &olen ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_crypt", ret );
+            return( ret );
+        }
+#else
         if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_crypt( &transform->cipher_ctx_dec,
                                    transform->iv_dec,
                                    transform->ivlen,
@@ -2994,7 +3103,7 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_decrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context const *ssl,
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_crypt", ret );
             return( ret );
         }
-
+#endif
         if( rec->data_len != olen )
         {
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "should never happen" ) );
@@ -3082,6 +3191,31 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_decrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context const *ssl,
         /*
          * Decrypt and authenticate
          */
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_setkey( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                                           transform->key_dec,
+                                           transform->key_bitlen,
+                                           MBEDTLS_DECRYPT ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_setkey", ret );
+            return( ret );
+        }
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_auth_decrypt( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                  iv, transform->ivlen,
+                  add_data, add_data_len,
+                  data, rec->data_len,
+                  data, &olen,
+                  data + rec->data_len,
+                  transform->taglen ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_auth_decrypt", ret );
+
+            if( ret == MBEDTLS_ERR_CIPHER_AUTH_FAILED )
+                return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_INVALID_MAC );
+
+            return( ret );
+        }
+#else
         if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_auth_decrypt( &transform->cipher_ctx_dec,
                   iv, transform->ivlen,
                   add_data, add_data_len,
@@ -3097,6 +3231,8 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_decrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context const *ssl,
 
             return( ret );
         }
+#endif
+
         auth_done++;
 
         /* Double-check that AEAD decryption doesn't change content length. */
@@ -3239,7 +3375,23 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_decrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context const *ssl,
 #endif /* MBEDTLS_SSL_PROTO_TLS1_1 || MBEDTLS_SSL_PROTO_TLS1_2 */
 
         /* We still have data_len % ivlen == 0 and data_len >= ivlen here. */
-
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_setkey( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                                           transform->key_dec,
+                                           transform->key_bitlen,
+                                           MBEDTLS_DECRYPT ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_setkey", ret );
+            return( ret );
+        }
+        if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_crypt( &transform->cipher_ctx,
+                                   transform->iv_dec, transform->ivlen,
+                                   data, rec->data_len, data, &olen ) ) != 0 )
+        {
+            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_crypt", ret );
+            return( ret );
+        }
+#else
         if( ( ret = mbedtls_cipher_crypt( &transform->cipher_ctx_dec,
                                    transform->iv_dec, transform->ivlen,
                                    data, rec->data_len, data, &olen ) ) != 0 )
@@ -3247,7 +3399,7 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_decrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context const *ssl,
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_cipher_crypt", ret );
             return( ret );
         }
-
+#endif
         /* Double-check that length hasn't changed during decryption. */
         if( rec->data_len != olen )
         {
@@ -3266,8 +3418,13 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_decrypt_buf( mbedtls_ssl_context const *ssl,
              * of the records; in other words, IVs are maintained across
              * record decryptions.
              */
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+            mbedtls_platform_memcpy( transform->iv_dec, transform->cipher_ctx.iv,
+                    transform->ivlen );
+#else
             mbedtls_platform_memcpy( transform->iv_dec, transform->cipher_ctx_dec.iv,
                     transform->ivlen );
+#endif
         }
 #endif
 
@@ -8495,9 +8652,12 @@ static void ssl_handshake_params_init( mbedtls_ssl_handshake_params *handshake )
 void mbedtls_ssl_transform_init( mbedtls_ssl_transform *transform )
 {
     memset( transform, 0, sizeof(mbedtls_ssl_transform) );
-
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+    mbedtls_cipher_init( &transform->cipher_ctx );
+#else
     mbedtls_cipher_init( &transform->cipher_ctx_enc );
     mbedtls_cipher_init( &transform->cipher_ctx_dec );
+#endif
 
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_SOME_MODES_USE_MAC)
     mbedtls_md_init( &transform->md_ctx_enc );
@@ -9866,8 +10026,11 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_get_record_expansion( const mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl )
     if( ssl->session_out->compression != MBEDTLS_SSL_COMPRESS_NULL )
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_FEATURE_UNAVAILABLE );
 #endif
-
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+    switch( mbedtls_cipher_get_cipher_mode( &transform->cipher_ctx ) )
+#else
     switch( mbedtls_cipher_get_cipher_mode( &transform->cipher_ctx_enc ) )
+#endif
     {
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_GCM_C)        || \
     defined(MBEDTLS_CCM_C)        || \
@@ -9898,10 +10061,13 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_get_record_expansion( const mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl )
         case MBEDTLS_MODE_CBC:
         {
             size_t block_size;
-
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+            block_size = mbedtls_cipher_get_block_size(
+                &transform->cipher_ctx );
+#else
             block_size = mbedtls_cipher_get_block_size(
                 &transform->cipher_ctx_enc );
-
+#endif
             /* Expansion due to the addition of the MAC. */
             transform_expansion += transform->maclen;
 
@@ -11371,8 +11537,13 @@ static int ssl_write_split( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
         mbedtls_ssl_ver_gt(
             mbedtls_ssl_get_minor_ver( ssl ),
             MBEDTLS_SSL_MINOR_VERSION_1 ) ||
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+        mbedtls_cipher_get_cipher_mode( &ssl->transform_out->cipher_ctx )
+                                != MBEDTLS_MODE_CBC )
+#else
         mbedtls_cipher_get_cipher_mode( &ssl->transform_out->cipher_ctx_enc )
                                 != MBEDTLS_MODE_CBC )
+#endif
     {
         return( ssl_write_real( ssl, buf, len ) );
     }
@@ -11486,10 +11657,16 @@ void mbedtls_ssl_transform_free( mbedtls_ssl_transform *transform )
     deflateEnd( &transform->ctx_deflate );
     inflateEnd( &transform->ctx_inflate );
 #endif
-
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+    mbedtls_cipher_free( &transform->cipher_ctx );
+    if( transform->key_dec != NULL )
+        mbedtls_free( transform->key_dec );
+    if( transform->key_enc != NULL )
+        mbedtls_free( transform->key_enc );
+#else
     mbedtls_cipher_free( &transform->cipher_ctx_enc );
     mbedtls_cipher_free( &transform->cipher_ctx_dec );
-
+#endif
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_SOME_MODES_USE_MAC)
     mbedtls_md_free( &transform->md_ctx_enc );
     mbedtls_md_free( &transform->md_ctx_dec );
diff --git a/library/version_features.c b/library/version_features.c
index 84cb8a62b..ec4a692a0 100644
--- a/library/version_features.c
+++ b/library/version_features.c
@@ -792,6 +792,9 @@ static const char *features[] = {
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TLS_C)
     "MBEDTLS_SSL_TLS_C",
 #endif /* MBEDTLS_SSL_TLS_C */
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+    "MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS",
+#endif /* MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS */
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_THREADING_C)
     "MBEDTLS_THREADING_C",
 #endif /* MBEDTLS_THREADING_C */
diff --git a/programs/ssl/query_config.c b/programs/ssl/query_config.c
index af77ed553..e8fd6341a 100644
--- a/programs/ssl/query_config.c
+++ b/programs/ssl/query_config.c
@@ -2154,6 +2154,14 @@ int query_config( const char *config )
     }
 #endif /* MBEDTLS_SSL_TLS_C */
 
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+    if( strcmp( "MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS", config ) == 0 )
+    {
+        MACRO_EXPANSION_TO_STR( MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS );
+        return( 0 );
+    }
+#endif /* MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS */
+
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_THREADING_C)
     if( strcmp( "MBEDTLS_THREADING_C", config ) == 0 )
     {
diff --git a/scripts/config.pl b/scripts/config.pl
index b63dc7766..5d2b28ee2 100755
--- a/scripts/config.pl
+++ b/scripts/config.pl
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
 #   MBEDTLS_AES_ONLY_ENCRYPT
 #   MBEDTLS_AES_SCA_COUNTERMEASURES
 #   MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_USE_128_BIT_KEY
+#   MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS
 #   and any symbol beginning _ALT
 #
 # The baremetal configuration excludes options that require a library or
@@ -140,6 +141,7 @@ MBEDTLS_AES_ONLY_128_BIT_KEY_LENGTH
 MBEDTLS_AES_ONLY_ENCRYPT
 MBEDTLS_AES_SCA_COUNTERMEASURES
 MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_USE_128_BIT_KEY
+MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS
 _ALT\s*$
 );
 
diff --git a/tests/suites/test_suite_ssl.function b/tests/suites/test_suite_ssl.function
index 9873dd828..a689d4580 100644
--- a/tests/suites/test_suite_ssl.function
+++ b/tests/suites/test_suite_ssl.function
@@ -68,15 +68,41 @@ static int build_transforms( mbedtls_ssl_transform *t_in,
     memset( key0, 0x1, keylen );
     memset( key1, 0x2, keylen );
 
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+    t_in->key_enc = mbedtls_calloc( 1, keylen );
+    t_in->key_dec = mbedtls_calloc( 1, keylen );
+
+    t_out->key_enc = mbedtls_calloc( 1, keylen );
+    t_out->key_dec = mbedtls_calloc( 1, keylen );
+
+    memcpy( t_in->key_enc, key0, keylen);
+    memcpy( t_in->key_dec, key1, keylen);
+    t_in->key_bitlen = cipher_info->key_bitlen;
+
+    memcpy( t_out->key_enc, key1, keylen);
+    memcpy( t_out->key_dec, key0, keylen);
+    t_out->key_bitlen = cipher_info->key_bitlen;
+
+    /* Setup cipher contexts */
+    CHK( mbedtls_cipher_setup( &t_in->cipher_ctx,  cipher_info ) == 0 );
+    CHK( mbedtls_cipher_setup( &t_out->cipher_ctx, cipher_info ) == 0 );
+#else
     /* Setup cipher contexts */
     CHK( mbedtls_cipher_setup( &t_in->cipher_ctx_enc,  cipher_info ) == 0 );
     CHK( mbedtls_cipher_setup( &t_in->cipher_ctx_dec,  cipher_info ) == 0 );
     CHK( mbedtls_cipher_setup( &t_out->cipher_ctx_enc, cipher_info ) == 0 );
     CHK( mbedtls_cipher_setup( &t_out->cipher_ctx_dec, cipher_info ) == 0 );
+#endif
 
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_CIPHER_MODE_CBC)
     if( cipher_info->mode == MBEDTLS_MODE_CBC )
     {
+#if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
+        CHK( mbedtls_cipher_set_padding_mode( &t_in->cipher_ctx,
+                                              MBEDTLS_PADDING_NONE ) == 0 );
+        CHK( mbedtls_cipher_set_padding_mode( &t_out->cipher_ctx,
+                                              MBEDTLS_PADDING_NONE ) == 0 );
+#else
         CHK( mbedtls_cipher_set_padding_mode( &t_in->cipher_ctx_enc,
                                               MBEDTLS_PADDING_NONE ) == 0 );
         CHK( mbedtls_cipher_set_padding_mode( &t_in->cipher_ctx_dec,
@@ -85,9 +111,11 @@ static int build_transforms( mbedtls_ssl_transform *t_in,
                                               MBEDTLS_PADDING_NONE ) == 0 );
         CHK( mbedtls_cipher_set_padding_mode( &t_out->cipher_ctx_dec,
                                               MBEDTLS_PADDING_NONE ) == 0 );
+#endif
     }
 #endif /* MBEDTLS_CIPHER_MODE_CBC */
 
+#if !defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_TRANSFORM_OPTIMIZE_CIPHERS)
     CHK( mbedtls_cipher_setkey( &t_in->cipher_ctx_enc, key0,
                                 keylen << 3, MBEDTLS_ENCRYPT ) == 0 );
     CHK( mbedtls_cipher_setkey( &t_in->cipher_ctx_dec, key1,
@@ -96,7 +124,7 @@ static int build_transforms( mbedtls_ssl_transform *t_in,
                                 keylen << 3, MBEDTLS_ENCRYPT ) == 0 );
     CHK( mbedtls_cipher_setkey( &t_out->cipher_ctx_dec, key0,
                                 keylen << 3, MBEDTLS_DECRYPT ) == 0 );
-
+#endif
     /* Setup MAC contexts */
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_SOME_MODES_USE_MAC)
     if( cipher_info->mode == MBEDTLS_MODE_CBC ||