diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0a89d7533..3472dad4f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ The following configuration properties are supported. Please refer to the [Wiki]
 | -------- | ----------- | ------- |
 | `broccoli.auth.mode` | Authentication and authorization mode (`none` or `conf`). | `none` |
 | `broccoli.auth.conf.accounts` | User accounts when running in `conf` mode. | `[{username:administrator, password:broccoli, role:administrator, instanceRegex:".*"}]` |
-| `broccoli.auth.session.timeout` | HTTPS session timeout (in seconds). | `3600` |
+| `broccoli.auth.session.timeout` | Cookie session timeout (in seconds). | `3600` |
+| `broccoli.auth.cookie.secure` | Whether to mark the cookie as secure (switch off if running on HTTP). | `true` |
 
 ### Web Server
 
diff --git a/app/de/frosner/broccoli/conf/package.scala b/app/de/frosner/broccoli/conf/package.scala
index bc487df1c..c69b27ff0 100644
--- a/app/de/frosner/broccoli/conf/package.scala
+++ b/app/de/frosner/broccoli/conf/package.scala
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ package object conf {
   val AUTH_SESSION_TIMEOUT_KEY = "broccoli.auth.session.timeout"
   val AUTH_SESSION_TIMEOUT_DEFAULT = 3600
 
+  val AUTH_COOKIE_SECURE_KEY = "broccoli.auth.cookie.secure"
+  val AUTH_COOKIE_SECURE_DEFAULT = true
+
   val AUTH_MODE_KEY = "broccoli.auth.mode"
   val AUTH_MODE_NONE = "none"
   val AUTH_MODE_CONF = "conf"
diff --git a/app/de/frosner/broccoli/controllers/AuthConfigImpl.scala b/app/de/frosner/broccoli/controllers/AuthConfigImpl.scala
index a087bfa20..5f1c97e35 100644
--- a/app/de/frosner/broccoli/controllers/AuthConfigImpl.scala
+++ b/app/de/frosner/broccoli/controllers/AuthConfigImpl.scala
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ trait AuthConfigImpl extends AuthConfig with Logging {
 
   val sessionTimeoutInSeconds = securityService.sessionTimeoutInSeconds
 
+  val cookieSecure = securityService.cookieSecure
+
   def resolveUser(id: Id)(implicit ctx: ExecutionContext): Future[Option[User]] = Future.successful(securityService.getAccount(id))
 
   def loginSucceeded(request: RequestHeader)(implicit ctx: ExecutionContext): Future[Result] =
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ trait AuthConfigImpl extends AuthConfig with Logging {
 
   override lazy val tokenAccessor = new CookieTokenAccessor(
     cookieName = AuthConfigImpl.CookieName,
-    cookieSecureOption = play.api.Play.maybeApplication.exists(app => play.api.Play.isProd(app)),
+    cookieSecureOption = play.api.Play.maybeApplication.exists(app => play.api.Play.isProd(app) && cookieSecure),
     cookieHttpOnlyOption = true,
     cookieDomainOption = None,
     cookiePathOption = "/",
diff --git a/app/de/frosner/broccoli/services/SecurityService.scala b/app/de/frosner/broccoli/services/SecurityService.scala
index 666974690..65920f52e 100644
--- a/app/de/frosner/broccoli/services/SecurityService.scala
+++ b/app/de/frosner/broccoli/services/SecurityService.scala
@@ -51,6 +51,18 @@ case class SecurityService @Inject() (configuration: Configuration) extends Logg
     result
   }
 
+  lazy val cookieSecure: Boolean = {
+    val parsed = SecurityService.tryCookieSecure(configuration) match {
+      case Success(cookieSecure) => cookieSecure
+      case Failure(throwable) =>
+        Logger.error(s"Error parsing ${conf.AUTH_COOKIE_SECURE_KEY}: $throwable")
+        System.exit(1)
+        throw throwable
+    }
+    Logger.info(s"${conf.AUTH_COOKIE_SECURE_KEY}=$parsed")
+    parsed
+  }
+
   private lazy val accounts: Set[Account] = {
     val accounts = SecurityService.tryAccounts(configuration) match {
       case Success(userObjects) => userObjects.toSet
@@ -103,4 +115,8 @@ object SecurityService {
     }.getOrElse(conf.AUTH_MODE_CONF_ACCOUNTS_DEFAULT)
   }
 
+  private[services] def tryCookieSecure(configuration: Configuration): Try[Boolean] = Try {
+    configuration.getBoolean(conf.AUTH_COOKIE_SECURE_KEY).getOrElse(conf.AUTH_COOKIE_SECURE_DEFAULT)
+  }
+
 }
diff --git a/test/de/frosner/broccoli/services/SecurityServiceSpec.scala b/test/de/frosner/broccoli/services/SecurityServiceSpec.scala
index b238ce89a..671080377 100644
--- a/test/de/frosner/broccoli/services/SecurityServiceSpec.scala
+++ b/test/de/frosner/broccoli/services/SecurityServiceSpec.scala
@@ -182,4 +182,29 @@ class SecurityServiceSpec extends Specification {
 
   }
 
+  "Parsing cookie secure from the configuration" should {
+
+    "work if the field is a boolean" in {
+      val config = ConfigFactory.empty().withValue(
+        conf.AUTH_COOKIE_SECURE_KEY,
+        ConfigValueFactory.fromAnyRef(false)
+      )
+      SecurityService.tryCookieSecure(Configuration(config)) === Success(false)
+    }
+
+    "fail if the field is not a boolean" in {
+      val config = ConfigFactory.empty().withValue(
+        conf.AUTH_COOKIE_SECURE_KEY,
+        ConfigValueFactory.fromAnyRef("bla")
+      )
+      SecurityService.tryCookieSecure(Configuration(config)).failed.get should beAnInstanceOf[Exception]
+    }
+
+    "take the default if the field is not defined" in {
+      val config = ConfigFactory.empty()
+      SecurityService.tryCookieSecure(Configuration(config)) === Success(conf.AUTH_COOKIE_SECURE_DEFAULT)
+    }
+
+  }
+
 }