diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 36dcdc3..b00bafe 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -12,6 +12,31 @@ dependencies = [
  "generic-array",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "aes"
+version = "0.8.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b169f7a6d4742236a0a00c541b845991d0ac43e546831af1249753ab4c3aa3a0"
+dependencies = [
+ "cfg-if",
+ "cipher",
+ "cpufeatures",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "aes-gcm"
+version = "0.10.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "831010a0f742e1209b3bcea8fab6a8e149051ba6099432c8cb2cc117dec3ead1"
+dependencies = [
+ "aead",
+ "aes",
+ "cipher",
+ "ctr",
+ "ghash",
+ "subtle",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "anstream"
 version = "1.0.0"
@@ -98,6 +123,17 @@ version = "1.8.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "2af50177e190e07a26ab74f8b1efbfe2ef87da2116221318cb1c2e82baf7de06"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "bcrypt-pbkdf"
+version = "0.10.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "6aeac2e1fe888769f34f05ac343bbef98b14d1ffb292ab69d4608b3abc86f2a2"
+dependencies = [
+ "blowfish",
+ "pbkdf2",
+ "sha2",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "bincode"
 version = "1.3.3"
@@ -128,12 +164,46 @@ dependencies = [
  "generic-array",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "block-padding"
+version = "0.3.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "a8894febbff9f758034a5b8e12d87918f56dfc64a8e1fe757d65e29041538d93"
+dependencies = [
+ "generic-array",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "blowfish"
+version = "0.9.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "e412e2cd0f2b2d93e02543ceae7917b3c70331573df19ee046bcbc35e45e87d7"
+dependencies = [
+ "byteorder",
+ "cipher",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "byteorder"
+version = "1.5.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1fd0f2584146f6f2ef48085050886acf353beff7305ebd1ae69500e27c67f64b"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "bytes"
 version = "1.11.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "1e748733b7cbc798e1434b6ac524f0c1ff2ab456fe201501e6497c8417a4fc33"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "cbc"
+version = "0.1.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "26b52a9543ae338f279b96b0b9fed9c8093744685043739079ce85cd58f289a6"
+dependencies = [
+ "cipher",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "cfg-if"
 version = "1.0.4"
@@ -284,6 +354,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "typenum",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "ctr"
+version = "0.9.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "0369ee1ad671834580515889b80f2ea915f23b8be8d0daa4bbaf2ac5c7590835"
+dependencies = [
+ "cipher",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "curve25519-dalek"
 version = "4.1.3"
@@ -371,6 +450,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "hmac",
  "portable-pty",
  "rand",
+ "rpassword",
  "serde",
  "sha2",
  "ssh-key",
@@ -534,6 +614,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "wasip3",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "ghash"
+version = "0.5.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "f0d8a4362ccb29cb0b265253fb0a2728f592895ee6854fd9bc13f2ffda266ff1"
+dependencies = [
+ "opaque-debug",
+ "polyval",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "group"
 version = "0.13.0"
@@ -608,6 +698,7 @@ version = "0.1.4"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "879f10e63c20629ecabbb64a8010319738c66a5cd0c29b02d63d272b03751d01"
 dependencies = [
+ "block-padding",
  "generic-array",
 ]
 
@@ -867,6 +958,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-link",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "pbkdf2"
+version = "0.12.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "f8ed6a7761f76e3b9f92dfb0a60a6a6477c61024b775147ff0973a02653abaf2"
+dependencies = [
+ "digest",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "pem-rfc7468"
 version = "0.7.0"
@@ -920,6 +1020,18 @@ dependencies = [
  "universal-hash",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "polyval"
+version = "0.6.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9d1fe60d06143b2430aa532c94cfe9e29783047f06c0d7fd359a9a51b729fa25"
+dependencies = [
+ "cfg-if",
+ "cpufeatures",
+ "opaque-debug",
+ "universal-hash",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "portable-pty"
 version = "0.8.1"
@@ -1053,6 +1165,17 @@ dependencies = [
  "subtle",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "rpassword"
+version = "7.5.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "2da316a15f47e3d053de9cb2c439650bd8fa4aaeb9365f2e5f27f492ff73c196"
+dependencies = [
+ "libc",
+ "rtoolbox",
+ "windows-sys 0.61.2",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "rsa"
 version = "0.9.10"
@@ -1074,6 +1197,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "zeroize",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "rtoolbox"
+version = "0.0.5"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "50a0e551c1e27e1731aba276dbeaeac73f53c7cd34d1bda485d02bd1e0f36844"
+dependencies = [
+ "libc",
+ "windows-sys 0.59.0",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "rustc_version"
 version = "0.4.1"
@@ -1335,8 +1468,15 @@ version = "0.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "caac132742f0d33c3af65bfcde7f6aa8f62f0e991d80db99149eb9d44708784f"
 dependencies = [
+ "aes",
+ "aes-gcm",
+ "cbc",
+ "chacha20",
  "cipher",
+ "ctr",
+ "poly1305",
  "ssh-encoding",
+ "subtle",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1356,6 +1496,7 @@ version = "0.6.7"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "3b86f5297f0f04d08cabaa0f6bff7cb6aec4d9c3b49d87990d63da9d9156a8c3"
 dependencies = [
+ "bcrypt-pbkdf",
  "ed25519-dalek",
  "p256",
  "p384",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index aefccd1..90f80f5 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -18,9 +18,10 @@ hkdf = "0.12"
 hmac = "0.12"
 portable-pty = "0.8"
 rand = "0.8"
+rpassword = "7.5.4"
 serde = { version = "1.0", features = ["derive"] }
 sha2 = "0.10"
-ssh-key = { version = "0.6.7", features = ["ed25519"] }
+ssh-key = { version = "0.6.7", features = ["ed25519", "encryption"] }
 tokio = { version = "1.41", features = ["full"] }
 toml = "0.8"
 vt100 = "0.15"
diff --git a/src/bin/dosh-client.rs b/src/bin/dosh-client.rs
index 35d0e6d..5a1a8e6 100644
--- a/src/bin/dosh-client.rs
+++ b/src/bin/dosh-client.rs
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ use dosh::config::{expand_tilde, load_client_config, load_hosts_config, load_ser
 use dosh::crypto;
 use dosh::native::{
     KnownHostStatus, TrustResult, derive_native_session_key, generate_native_ephemeral,
-    host_fingerprint, load_ed25519_identity, parse_host_public_key_line, remove_trusted_host,
-    sign_user_auth, trust_host, verify_known_host, verify_server_hello,
+    host_fingerprint, load_ed25519_identity, load_ed25519_identity_with_passphrase,
+    parse_host_public_key_line, remove_trusted_host, sign_user_auth, trust_host, verify_known_host,
+    verify_server_hello,
 };
 use dosh::protocol::{
     self, AttachOk, AttachReject, BootstrapAttachRequest, CLIENT_TO_SERVER, Frame, Input,
@@ -991,19 +992,33 @@ fn load_first_native_identity(
     cli_identity: Option<&Path>,
     ssh_config: &SshConfig,
 ) -> Result<ed25519_dalek::SigningKey> {
+    load_first_native_identity_with_prompt(
+        config,
+        cli_identity,
+        ssh_config,
+        prompt_identity_passphrase,
+    )
+}
+
+fn load_first_native_identity_with_prompt<F>(
+    config: &dosh::config::ClientConfig,
+    cli_identity: Option<&Path>,
+    ssh_config: &SshConfig,
+    mut prompt: F,
+) -> Result<ed25519_dalek::SigningKey>
+where
+    F: FnMut(&Path) -> Result<String>,
+{
     let mut paths = Vec::new();
     if let Some(path) = cli_identity {
-        paths.push(path.to_path_buf());
+        push_identity_path(&mut paths, path.to_path_buf());
+    }
+    for path in &ssh_config.identity_files {
+        push_identity_path(&mut paths, expand_tilde(path));
+    }
+    for path in &config.identity_files {
+        push_identity_path(&mut paths, expand_tilde(path));
     }
-    paths.extend(
-        ssh_config
-            .identity_files
-            .iter()
-            .map(|path| expand_tilde(path)),
-    );
-    paths.extend(config.identity_files.iter().map(|path| expand_tilde(path)));
-    paths.sort();
-    paths.dedup();
 
     let mut errors = Vec::new();
     for path in paths {
@@ -1012,6 +1027,14 @@ fn load_first_native_identity(
         }
         match load_ed25519_identity(&path) {
             Ok(identity) => return Ok(identity),
+            Err(err) if err.to_string().contains(" is encrypted") => {
+                match prompt(&path).and_then(|passphrase| {
+                    load_ed25519_identity_with_passphrase(&path, Some(&passphrase))
+                }) {
+                    Ok(identity) => return Ok(identity),
+                    Err(err) => errors.push(format!("{}: {err:#}", path.display())),
+                }
+            }
             Err(err) => errors.push(format!("{}: {err:#}", path.display())),
         }
     }
@@ -1025,6 +1048,17 @@ fn load_first_native_identity(
     }
 }
 
+fn push_identity_path(paths: &mut Vec<PathBuf>, path: PathBuf) {
+    if !paths.iter().any(|existing| existing == &path) {
+        paths.push(path);
+    }
+}
+
+fn prompt_identity_passphrase(path: &Path) -> Result<String> {
+    rpassword::prompt_password(format!("Enter passphrase for {}: ", path.display()))
+        .with_context(|| format!("read passphrase for {}", path.display()))
+}
+
 async fn bootstrap_attach(
     socket: &UdpSocket,
     server_name: &str,
@@ -1729,10 +1763,13 @@ const TERMINAL_CLEANUP: &[u8] = concat!(
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::{
-        FrameBuffer, Predictor, auth_allows, parse_ssh_config, raw_contains_host_table,
-        ssh_destination_host, ssh_username, startup_command, toml_bare_key_or_quoted,
+        FrameBuffer, Predictor, SshConfig, auth_allows, load_first_native_identity_with_prompt,
+        parse_ssh_config, raw_contains_host_table, ssh_destination_host, ssh_username,
+        startup_command, toml_bare_key_or_quoted,
     };
+    use dosh::config::ClientConfig;
     use dosh::protocol::Frame;
+    use ed25519_dalek::{SigningKey, VerifyingKey};
 
     #[test]
     fn parses_ssh_config_hostname() {
@@ -1801,6 +1838,57 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!auth_allows("native", "ssh"));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn encrypted_identity_file_prompts_and_loads() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let path = dir.path().join("id_ed25519");
+        let signing = SigningKey::from_bytes(&[61u8; 32]);
+        write_encrypted_identity(&path, &signing, "let-me-in");
+        let mut config = ClientConfig::default();
+        config.identity_files.clear();
+        let loaded = load_first_native_identity_with_prompt(
+            &config,
+            Some(&path),
+            &SshConfig::default(),
+            |_| Ok("let-me-in".to_string()),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            VerifyingKey::from(&loaded).to_bytes(),
+            VerifyingKey::from(&signing).to_bytes()
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn encrypted_identity_file_reports_wrong_passphrase() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let path = dir.path().join("id_ed25519");
+        let signing = SigningKey::from_bytes(&[62u8; 32]);
+        write_encrypted_identity(&path, &signing, "correct");
+        let mut config = ClientConfig::default();
+        config.identity_files.clear();
+        let err = load_first_native_identity_with_prompt(
+            &config,
+            Some(&path),
+            &SshConfig::default(),
+            |_| Ok("wrong".to_string()),
+        )
+        .unwrap_err();
+
+        assert!(err.to_string().contains("no usable ssh-ed25519 identity"));
+    }
+
+    fn write_encrypted_identity(path: &std::path::Path, signing: &SigningKey, passphrase: &str) {
+        let keypair = ssh_key::private::Ed25519Keypair::from(signing);
+        let private =
+            ssh_key::PrivateKey::new(ssh_key::private::KeypairData::from(keypair), "test").unwrap();
+        let encrypted = private.encrypt(&mut rand::rngs::OsRng, passphrase).unwrap();
+        encrypted
+            .write_openssh_file(path, ssh_key::LineEnding::LF)
+            .unwrap();
+    }
+
     fn test_frame(seq: u64, snapshot: bool) -> Frame {
         Frame {
             session: "test".to_string(),
diff --git a/src/native.rs b/src/native.rs
index 227898f..981af2e 100644
--- a/src/native.rs
+++ b/src/native.rs
@@ -358,13 +358,24 @@ pub fn derive_native_session_key(
 }
 
 pub fn load_ed25519_identity(path: &Path) -> Result<SigningKey> {
+    load_ed25519_identity_with_passphrase(path, None)
+}
+
+pub fn load_ed25519_identity_with_passphrase(
+    path: &Path,
+    passphrase: Option<&str>,
+) -> Result<SigningKey> {
     let private_key = ssh_key::PrivateKey::read_openssh_file(path)
         .with_context(|| format!("read OpenSSH identity {}", path.display()))?;
-    anyhow::ensure!(
-        !private_key.is_encrypted(),
-        "OpenSSH identity {} is encrypted; encrypted-key prompts are not wired yet",
-        path.display()
-    );
+    let private_key = if private_key.is_encrypted() {
+        let passphrase = passphrase
+            .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("OpenSSH identity {} is encrypted", path.display()))?;
+        private_key
+            .decrypt(passphrase)
+            .with_context(|| format!("decrypt OpenSSH identity {}", path.display()))?
+    } else {
+        private_key
+    };
     let ed25519 = private_key
         .key_data()
         .ed25519()
@@ -929,6 +940,32 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn load_ed25519_identity_decrypts_encrypted_openssh_private_key() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let path = dir.path().join("id_ed25519");
+        let signing = SigningKey::from_bytes(&[12u8; 32]);
+        let keypair = ssh_key::private::Ed25519Keypair::from(&signing);
+        let private =
+            ssh_key::PrivateKey::new(ssh_key::private::KeypairData::from(keypair), "").unwrap();
+        let encrypted = private
+            .encrypt(&mut rand::rngs::OsRng, "correct horse battery staple")
+            .unwrap();
+        encrypted
+            .write_openssh_file(&path, ssh_key::LineEnding::LF)
+            .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(load_ed25519_identity(&path).is_err());
+        assert!(load_ed25519_identity_with_passphrase(&path, Some("wrong")).is_err());
+        let loaded =
+            load_ed25519_identity_with_passphrase(&path, Some("correct horse battery staple"))
+                .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            VerifyingKey::from(&loaded).to_bytes(),
+            VerifyingKey::from(&signing).to_bytes()
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn native_session_key_derivation_matches_and_binds_transcript() {
         let host_signing = SigningKey::from_bytes(&[3u8; 32]);