diff --git a/src/Renci.SshNet/ConnectionInfo.cs b/src/Renci.SshNet/ConnectionInfo.cs
index f9b872d3c..51cb30e9e 100644
--- a/src/Renci.SshNet/ConnectionInfo.cs
+++ b/src/Renci.SshNet/ConnectionInfo.cs
@@ -180,6 +180,11 @@ public class ConnectionInfo : IConnectionInfoInternal
         /// </value>
         public int MaxSessions { get; set; }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// send client keys right after server version exchange, don't wait for server
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool EarlyClientInitMessage { get; set; }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Occurs when authentication banner is sent by the server.
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/Renci.SshNet/Security/KeyExchange.cs b/src/Renci.SshNet/Security/KeyExchange.cs
index 75e3517ac..1d0fa730a 100644
--- a/src/Renci.SshNet/Security/KeyExchange.cs
+++ b/src/Renci.SshNet/Security/KeyExchange.cs
@@ -71,7 +71,14 @@ public virtual void Start(Session session, KeyExchangeInitMessage message)
         {
             Session = session;
 
-            SendMessage(session.ClientInitMessage);
+            if (!Session.ConnectionInfo.EarlyClientInitMessage)
+            {
+                SendMessage(session.ClientInitMessage);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                DiagnosticAbstraction.Log("KeyExchange: ClientInitMessage already sent, skip");
+            }
 
             //  Determine encryption algorithm
             var clientEncryptionAlgorithmName = (from b in session.ConnectionInfo.Encryptions.Keys
diff --git a/src/Renci.SshNet/Session.cs b/src/Renci.SshNet/Session.cs
index 33af76560..c50b7be42 100644
--- a/src/Renci.SshNet/Session.cs
+++ b/src/Renci.SshNet/Session.cs
@@ -651,6 +651,12 @@ public void Connect()
                     // mark the message listener threads as started
                     _messageListenerCompleted.Reset();
 
+                    if (ConnectionInfo.EarlyClientInitMessage)
+                    {
+                        DiagnosticAbstraction.Log("Sending early client init message");
+                        SendMessage(ClientInitMessage);
+                    }
+
                     //  Start incoming request listener
                     ThreadAbstraction.ExecuteThread(MessageListener);