diff --git a/hivemind_bus_client/client.py b/hivemind_bus_client/client.py
index e68e4b5..dbbf6b1 100644
--- a/hivemind_bus_client/client.py
+++ b/hivemind_bus_client/client.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import json
 import ssl
 from threading import Event
-from typing import Union, Optional, Callable, Literal
+from typing import Union, Optional, Callable
 
 import pybase64
 from Cryptodome.PublicKey import RSA
@@ -102,13 +102,10 @@ def __init__(self, key: Optional[str] = None,
                  binarize: bool = True,
                  identity: NodeIdentity = None,
                  internal_bus: Optional[OVOSBusClient] = None,
-                 bin_callbacks: BinaryDataCallbacks = BinaryDataCallbacks(),
-                 json_cipher: Literal[JsonCiphers] = JsonCiphers.JSON_HEX_AES_GCM_128, # TODO - default to b64 at some point
-                 bin_cipher: Literal[BinaryCiphers] = BinaryCiphers.BINARY_AES_GCM_128, # TODO - ChaCha20 if certain hardware detected
-                 ):
+                 bin_callbacks: BinaryDataCallbacks = BinaryDataCallbacks()):
         self.bin_callbacks = bin_callbacks
-        self.json_cipher = json_cipher
-        self.bin_cipher = bin_cipher
+        self.json_cipher = JsonCiphers.JSON_HEX_AES_GCM_128  # server defaults before it was made configurable
+        self.bin_cipher = BinaryCiphers.BINARY_AES_GCM_128  # server defaults before it was made configurable
 
         self.identity = identity or None
         self._password = password
diff --git a/hivemind_bus_client/encryption.py b/hivemind_bus_client/encryption.py
index b1c4ea6..6bad2bb 100644
--- a/hivemind_bus_client/encryption.py
+++ b/hivemind_bus_client/encryption.py
@@ -6,9 +6,14 @@
 import pybase64
 from Cryptodome.Cipher import AES, ChaCha20_Poly1305
 
+from cpuinfo import get_cpu_info
 from hivemind_bus_client.exceptions import EncryptionKeyError, DecryptionKeyError, InvalidCipher
 
 
+def cpu_supports_AES() -> bool:
+    return "aes" in get_cpu_info()["flags"]
+
+
 class JsonCiphers(str, enum.Enum):
     """
     Enum representing JSON-based encryption ciphers.
diff --git a/hivemind_bus_client/protocol.py b/hivemind_bus_client/protocol.py
index 9be4bb8..d60bfdc 100644
--- a/hivemind_bus_client/protocol.py
+++ b/hivemind_bus_client/protocol.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import pybase64
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import Optional
+from typing import Optional, Tuple
 
 from ovos_bus_client import Message as MycroftMessage
 from ovos_bus_client import MessageBusClient
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from ovos_utils.log import LOG
 
 from hivemind_bus_client.client import HiveMessageBusClient
-from hivemind_bus_client.encryption import JsonCiphers, BinaryCiphers
+from hivemind_bus_client.encryption import JsonCiphers, BinaryCiphers, cpu_supports_AES
 from hivemind_bus_client.identity import NodeIdentity
 from hivemind_bus_client.message import HiveMessage, HiveMessageType
 from poorman_handshake import HandShake, PasswordHandShake
@@ -119,6 +119,16 @@ def node_id(self):
         # this is how ovos-core bus refers to this slave's master
         return self.internal_protocol.node_id
 
+    @property
+    def optimal_ciphers(self) -> Tuple[JsonCiphers, BinaryCiphers]:
+        if not cpu_supports_AES():
+            j = JsonCiphers.JSON_B64_CHACHA20_POLY1305
+            b = BinaryCiphers.BINARY_CHACHA20_POLY1305
+        else:
+            j = JsonCiphers.JSON_B64_AES_GCM_128
+            b = BinaryCiphers.BINARY_AES_GCM_128
+        return j, b
+
     # TODO - handshake handlers
     # hivemind events
     def handle_illegal_msg(self, message: HiveMessage):
@@ -184,6 +194,9 @@ def handle_handshake(self, message: HiveMessage):
         # master is performing the handshake
         if "envelope" in message.payload:
             envelope = message.payload["envelope"]
+            self.hm.json_cipher =  message.payload.get("json_cipher") or JsonCiphers.JSON_HEX_AES_GCM_128
+            self.hm.bin_cipher =  message.payload.get("binary_cipher") or BinaryCiphers.BINARY_AES_GCM_128
+            LOG.debug(f"Cipher to use: {self.hm.json_cipher} + {self.hm.bin_cipher}")
             self.receive_handshake(envelope)
 
         # master is requesting handshake start
diff --git a/hivemind_bus_client/scripts.py b/hivemind_bus_client/scripts.py
index e1eabb8..e7c4f0e 100644
--- a/hivemind_bus_client/scripts.py
+++ b/hivemind_bus_client/scripts.py
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ def test_identity():
     node.close()
 
 
-@hmclient_cmds.command(help="recreate the PGP key for inter-node communication", name="reset-pgp")
-def reset_pgp_key():
+@hmclient_cmds.command(help="recreate the private RSA key for inter-node communication", name="reset-pgp")
+def reset_keys():
     identity = NodeIdentity()
     identity.create_keys()
     print("PUBKEY:", identity.public_key)
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index b2dac71..cacd61b 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,5 @@ ovos_utils>=0.0.38
 bitstring>=4.1.1
 cryptography>=41.0.1
 pycryptodomex>=3.18.0
-pybase64
\ No newline at end of file
+pybase64
+py-cpuinfo
\ No newline at end of file