diff --git a/include/zmq.h b/include/zmq.h
index 2cde8230a1..87b2f8e600 100644
--- a/include/zmq.h
+++ b/include/zmq.h
@@ -570,6 +570,7 @@ ZMQ_EXPORT void zmq_threadclose (void* thread);
 #define ZMQ_GSSAPI_PRINCIPAL_NAMETYPE 90
 #define ZMQ_GSSAPI_SERVICE_PRINCIPAL_NAMETYPE 91
 #define ZMQ_BINDTODEVICE 92
+#define ZMQ_ZAP_DOMAIN_REQUIRED 93
 
 /*  DRAFT 0MQ socket events and monitoring                                    */
 /*  Unspecified system errors during handshake. Event value is an errno.      */
diff --git a/src/curve_server.cpp b/src/curve_server.cpp
index 23173045d0..b14f21584c 100644
--- a/src/curve_server.cpp
+++ b/src/curve_server.cpp
@@ -390,7 +390,9 @@ int zmq::curve_server_t::process_initiate (msg_t *msg_)
     rc = crypto_box_beforenm (cn_precom, cn_client, cn_secret);
     zmq_assert (rc == 0);
 
-    if (zap_required ()) {
+    //  Given this is a backward-incompatible change, it's behind a socket
+    //  option disabled by default.
+    if (zap_required () || !options.zap_domain_required) {
         //  Use ZAP protocol (RFC 27) to authenticate the user.
         rc = session->zap_connect ();
         if (rc == 0) {
@@ -404,6 +406,10 @@ int zmq::curve_server_t::process_initiate (msg_t *msg_)
             rc = receive_and_process_zap_reply ();
             if (rc == -1)
                 return -1;
+        } else if (!options.zap_domain_required) {
+            //  This supports the Stonehouse pattern (encryption without
+            //  authentication) in legacy mode (allow empty ZAP domain).
+            state = sending_ready;
         } else {
             session->get_socket ()->event_handshake_failed_no_detail (
               session->get_endpoint (), EFAULT);
diff --git a/src/options.cpp b/src/options.cpp
index 5382140406..bf46586b03 100644
--- a/src/options.cpp
+++ b/src/options.cpp
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@ zmq::options_t::options_t () :
     heartbeat_ttl (0),
     heartbeat_interval (0),
     heartbeat_timeout (-1),
-    use_fd (-1)
+    use_fd (-1),
+    zap_domain_required (false)
 {
     memset (curve_public_key, 0, CURVE_KEYSIZE);
     memset (curve_secret_key, 0, CURVE_KEYSIZE);
@@ -628,6 +629,14 @@ int zmq::options_t::setsockopt (int option_, const void *optval_,
             }
             break;
 
+        case ZMQ_ZAP_DOMAIN_REQUIRED:
+            if (is_int) {
+                zap_domain_required = (value != 0);
+                return 0;
+            }
+            break;
+
+
         default:
 #if defined (ZMQ_ACT_MILITANT)
             //  There are valid scenarios for probing with unknown socket option
@@ -1052,6 +1061,13 @@ int zmq::options_t::getsockopt (int option_, void *optval_, size_t *optvallen_)
             }
             break;
 
+        case ZMQ_ZAP_DOMAIN_REQUIRED:
+            if (is_int) {
+                *value = zap_domain_required;
+                return 0;
+            }
+            break;
+
         default:
 #if defined (ZMQ_ACT_MILITANT)
             malformed = false;
diff --git a/src/options.hpp b/src/options.hpp
index 2597266004..7861f938e5 100644
--- a/src/options.hpp
+++ b/src/options.hpp
@@ -242,6 +242,9 @@ namespace zmq
 
         // Device to bind the underlying socket to, eg. VRF or interface
         std::string bound_device;
+
+        //  Enforce a non-empty ZAP domain requirement for PLAIN auth
+        bool zap_domain_required;
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/plain_server.cpp b/src/plain_server.cpp
index 5fabb1ca45..6e9fad53e6 100644
--- a/src/plain_server.cpp
+++ b/src/plain_server.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,10 @@ zmq::plain_server_t::plain_server_t (session_base_t *session_,
     //  Note that there is no point to PLAIN if ZAP is not set up to handle the
     //  username and password, so if ZAP is not configured it is considered a
     //  failure.
-    zmq_assert (zap_required());
+    //  Given this is a backward-incompatible change, it's behind a socket
+    //  option disabled by default.
+    if (options.zap_domain_required)
+        zmq_assert (zap_required());
 }
 
 zmq::plain_server_t::~plain_server_t ()
diff --git a/src/zmq_draft.h b/src/zmq_draft.h
index cf2b452b0b..7df90e4515 100644
--- a/src/zmq_draft.h
+++ b/src/zmq_draft.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 #define ZMQ_GSSAPI_PRINCIPAL_NAMETYPE 90
 #define ZMQ_GSSAPI_SERVICE_PRINCIPAL_NAMETYPE 91
 #define ZMQ_BINDTODEVICE 92
+#define ZMQ_ZAP_DOMAIN_REQUIRED 93
 
 /*  DRAFT 0MQ socket events and monitoring                                    */
 /*  Unspecified system errors during handshake. Event value is an errno.      */
diff --git a/tests/test_security_zap.cpp b/tests/test_security_zap.cpp
index 383dbd9718..a4503f3c87 100644
--- a/tests/test_security_zap.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_security_zap.cpp
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@ void test_zap_errors (socket_config_fn server_socket_config_,
     shutdown_context_and_server_side (ctx, zap_thread, server, server_mon,
                                       handler);
 
+#ifdef ZMQ_ZAP_DOMAIN_REQUIRED
     //  no ZAP handler
     fprintf (stderr, "test_zap_unsuccessful no ZAP handler started\n");
     setup_context_and_server_side (&ctx, &handler, &zap_thread, &server,
@@ -339,6 +340,7 @@ void test_zap_errors (socket_config_fn server_socket_config_,
       client_socket_config_, client_socket_config_data_);
     shutdown_context_and_server_side (ctx, zap_thread, server, server_mon,
                                       handler);
+#endif
 
     //  ZAP handler disconnecting on first message
     fprintf(stderr, "test_zap_unsuccessful ZAP handler disconnects\n");
diff --git a/tests/testutil_security.hpp b/tests/testutil_security.hpp
index c373622505..e106171415 100644
--- a/tests/testutil_security.hpp
+++ b/tests/testutil_security.hpp
@@ -114,6 +114,13 @@ void socket_config_curve_server (void *server, void *server_secret)
     rc = zmq_setsockopt (server, ZMQ_ZAP_DOMAIN, test_zap_domain,
                          strlen (test_zap_domain));
     assert (rc == 0);
+
+#ifdef ZMQ_ZAP_DOMAIN_REQUIRED
+    int required = 1;
+    rc = zmq_setsockopt (server, ZMQ_ZAP_DOMAIN_REQUIRED, &required,
+            sizeof (int));
+    assert (rc == 0);
+#endif
 }
 
 struct curve_client_data_t