diff --git a/include/picotls.h b/include/picotls.h
index a3050c1..b7f13d2 100644
--- a/include/picotls.h
+++ b/include/picotls.h
@@ -736,6 +736,10 @@
      */
     unsigned use_raw_public_keys : 1;
     /**
+     * boolean indicating if the cipher-suite should be chosen based on server's preference
+     */
+    unsigned server_cipher_preference : 1;
+    /**
      *
      */
     ptls_encrypt_ticket_t *encrypt_ticket;
diff --git a/lib/picotls.c b/lib/picotls.c
index 210d530..e2894fb 100644
--- a/lib/picotls.c
+++ b/lib/picotls.c
@@ -1571,19 +1571,34 @@
 }
 
 static int select_cipher(ptls_cipher_suite_t **selected, ptls_cipher_suite_t **candidates, const uint8_t *src,
-                         const uint8_t *const end)
+                         const uint8_t *const end, int server_preference)
 {
     int ret;
 
-    while (src != end) {
-        uint16_t id;
-        if ((ret = ptls_decode16(&id, &src, end)) != 0)
-            goto Exit;
+    if (server_preference) {
         ptls_cipher_suite_t **c = candidates;
         for (; *c != NULL; ++c) {
-            if ((*c)->id == id) {
-                *selected = *c;
-                return 0;
+            while (src != end) {
+                uint16_t id;
+                if ((ret = ptls_decode16(&id, &src, end)) != 0)
+                    goto Exit;
+                if ((*c)->id == id) {
+                    *selected = *c;
+                    return 0;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    } else {
+        while (src != end) {
+            uint16_t id;
+            if ((ret = ptls_decode16(&id, &src, end)) != 0)
+                goto Exit;
+            ptls_cipher_suite_t **c = candidates;
+            for (; *c != NULL; ++c) {
+                if ((*c)->id == id) {
+                    *selected = *c;
+                    return 0;
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1731,7 +1746,7 @@
     });
     /* cipher-suite */
     ptls_decode_open_block(src, end, 2, {
-        if ((ret = select_cipher(selected_cipher, ctx->cipher_suites, src, end)) != 0)
+        if ((ret = select_cipher(selected_cipher, ctx->cipher_suites, src, end, ctx->server_cipher_preference)) != 0)
             goto Exit;
         src = end;
     });
@@ -3816,7 +3831,7 @@
     { /* select (or check) cipher-suite, create key_schedule */
         ptls_cipher_suite_t *cs;
         if ((ret = select_cipher(&cs, tls->ctx->cipher_suites, ch->cipher_suites.base,
-                                 ch->cipher_suites.base + ch->cipher_suites.len)) != 0)
+                                 ch->cipher_suites.base + ch->cipher_suites.len, tls->ctx->server_cipher_preference)) != 0)
             goto Exit;
         if (!is_second_flight) {
             tls->cipher_suite = cs;