diff --git a/simplematrixbotlib/api.py b/simplematrixbotlib/api.py
index 1d87b3d..aaf1e1f 100644
--- a/simplematrixbotlib/api.py
+++ b/simplematrixbotlib/api.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ async def check_valid_homeserver(homeserver: str) -> bool:
     async with aiohttp.ClientSession() as session:
         try:
             async with session.get(
-                    f'{homeserver}/_matrix/client/versions') as response:
+                    f'{homeserver}/_matrix/client/versions',proxy=os.environ.get('https_proxy')) as response:
                 if response.status == 200:
                     return True
         except aiohttp.client_exceptions.ClientConnectorError:
@@ -91,11 +91,13 @@ async def login(self):
             store_sync_tokens=True,
             encryption_enabled=self.config.encryption_enabled)
         store_path = self.config.store_path
+        proxy = self.config.proxy or os.environ.get('https_proxy',os.environ.get('HTTPS_PROXY'))
         os.makedirs(store_path, mode=0o750, exist_ok=True)
         self.async_client = AsyncClient(homeserver=self.creds.homeserver,
                                         user=self.creds.username,
                                         device_id=self.creds.device_id,
                                         store_path=store_path,
+                                        proxy=proxy,
                                         config=client_config)
 
         if self.creds.access_token:
diff --git a/simplematrixbotlib/config.py b/simplematrixbotlib/config.py
index f2def07..743ed49 100644
--- a/simplematrixbotlib/config.py
+++ b/simplematrixbotlib/config.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ class Config:
     _join_on_invite: bool = True
     _encryption_enabled: bool = ENCRYPTION_ENABLED
     _emoji_verify: bool = False  # So users who enable it are aware of required interactivity
+    _proxy: str = None  # So users who enable it are aware of required interactivity
     _ignore_unverified_devices: bool = True  # True by default in Element
     # TODO: auto-ignore/auto-blacklist devices/users
     # _allowed_unverified_devices etc
@@ -120,6 +121,20 @@ def emoji_verify(self) -> bool:
     def emoji_verify(self, value: bool) -> None:
         self._emoji_verify = value and self.encryption_enabled
 
+    @property
+    def proxy(self) -> str:
+        """
+        Returns
+        -------
+        string
+            Whether a proxy, and which should be used to communicate.
+        """
+        return self._proxy
+
+    @proxy.setter
+    def proxy(self, value: str) -> None:
+        self._proxy = value 
+
     @property
     def store_path(self) -> str:
         """