diff --git a/yadm b/yadm
index ffcb074..a89bfa4 100755
--- a/yadm
+++ b/yadm
@@ -226,6 +226,14 @@ function encrypt() {
     return
   }
 
+  #; Build gpg options for gpg
+  GPG_KEY="$(config yadm.gpg-recipient)"
+  if [ "$GPG_KEY" != "" ]; then
+    GPG_OPTS="-er $GPG_KEY"
+  else
+    GPG_OPTS="-c"
+  fi
+
   #; build a list of globs from YADM_ENCRYPT
   GLOBS=()
   while IFS='' read -r glob || [ -n "$glob" ]; do
@@ -235,7 +243,7 @@ function encrypt() {
   done < "$YADM_ENCRYPT"
 
   #; encrypt all files which match the globs
-  tar -cv "${GLOBS[@]}" | gpg --yes -c --output "$YADM_ARCHIVE"
+  tar -cv ${GLOBS[@]} | gpg --yes "$GPG_OPTS" --output "$YADM_ARCHIVE"
   if [ $? = 0 ]; then
     echo "Wrote new file: $YADM_ARCHIVE"
   else
diff --git a/yadm.1 b/yadm.1
index db623fd..c6eb9c7 100644
--- a/yadm.1
+++ b/yadm.1
@@ -292,6 +292,12 @@ This feature is enabled by default.
 Disable the permission changes to
 .IR $HOME/.gnupg/* .
 This feature is enabled by default.
+.TP
+.B yadm.gpg-recipient
+Asymmetrically encrypt files with a gpg public/private key pair.
+Provide a key ID to encrypt against that public key.
+If left blank or not provided, symmetric encryption is used instead.
+This feature is disabled by deafult.
 .SH ALTERNATES
 When managing a set of files across different systems, it can be useful to have
 an automated way of choosing an alternate version of a file for a different
diff --git a/yadm.md b/yadm.md
index 6dbe4a7..0641592 100644
--- a/yadm.md
+++ b/yadm.md
@@ -179,6 +179,12 @@
               Disable  the permission changes to $HOME/.gnupg/*.  This feature
               is enabled by default.
 
+       yadm.gpg-recipient
+              Asymmetrically encrypt files with a gpg public/private key pair.
+              Provice a key ID to encrypt against that public key.
+              If left blank or not provided, symmetric encryption is used
+              instead. This feature is disabled by deafult.
+
 ## ALTERNATES
        When managing a set of files across different systems, it can be useful
        to have an automated way of choosing an alternate version of a file for