diff --git a/slixmpp/__init__.py b/slixmpp/__init__.py
index 46804bf5..0730cc60 100644
--- a/slixmpp/__init__.py
+++ b/slixmpp/__init__.py
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@
     See the file LICENSE for copying permission.
 """
 
-import asyncio
-if hasattr(asyncio, 'sslproto'): # no ssl proto: very old asyncio = no need for this
-    asyncio.sslproto._is_sslproto_available=lambda: False
 import logging
 logging.getLogger(__name__).addHandler(logging.NullHandler())
 
diff --git a/slixmpp/features/feature_starttls/starttls.py b/slixmpp/features/feature_starttls/starttls.py
index d472dad7..7e3af992 100644
--- a/slixmpp/features/feature_starttls/starttls.py
+++ b/slixmpp/features/feature_starttls/starttls.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from slixmpp.stanza import StreamFeatures
 from slixmpp.xmlstream import register_stanza_plugin
 from slixmpp.plugins import BasePlugin
 from slixmpp.xmlstream.matcher import MatchXPath
-from slixmpp.xmlstream.handler import Callback
+from slixmpp.xmlstream.handler import CoroutineCallback
 from slixmpp.features.feature_starttls import stanza
 
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class FeatureSTARTTLS(BasePlugin):
 
     def plugin_init(self):
         self.xmpp.register_handler(
-                Callback('STARTTLS Proceed',
+                CoroutineCallback('STARTTLS Proceed',
                         MatchXPath(stanza.Proceed.tag_name()),
                         self._handle_starttls_proceed,
                         instream=True))
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ class FeatureSTARTTLS(BasePlugin):
             self.xmpp.send(features['starttls'])
             return True
 
-    def _handle_starttls_proceed(self, proceed):
+    async def _handle_starttls_proceed(self, proceed):
         """Restart the XML stream when TLS is accepted."""
         log.debug("Starting TLS")
-        if self.xmpp.start_tls():
+        if await self.xmpp.start_tls():
             self.xmpp.features.add('starttls')
diff --git a/slixmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py b/slixmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
index d5dce586..1fa07b0c 100644
--- a/slixmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
+++ b/slixmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
@@ -64,12 +64,12 @@ class XMLStream(asyncio.BaseProtocol):
     :param int port: The port to use for the connection. Defaults to 0.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, socket=None, host='', port=0):
+    def __init__(self, host='', port=0):
         # The asyncio.Transport object provided by the connection_made()
         # callback when we are connected
         self.transport = None
 
-        # The socket the is used internally by the transport object
+        # The socket that is used internally by the transport object
         self.socket = None
 
         self.connect_loop_wait = 0
@@ -354,7 +354,10 @@ class XMLStream(asyncio.BaseProtocol):
         """
         self.event(self.event_when_connected)
         self.transport = transport
-        self.socket = self.transport.get_extra_info("socket")
+        self.socket = self.transport.get_extra_info(
+            "ssl_object",
+            default=self.transport.get_extra_info("socket")
+        )
         self.init_parser()
         self.send_raw(self.stream_header)
         self.dns_answers = None
@@ -527,36 +530,29 @@ class XMLStream(asyncio.BaseProtocol):
 
         return self.ssl_context
 
-    def start_tls(self):
+    async def start_tls(self):
         """Perform handshakes for TLS.
 
         If the handshake is successful, the XML stream will need
         to be restarted.
         """
         self.event_when_connected = "tls_success"
-
         ssl_context = self.get_ssl_context()
-        ssl_connect_routine = self.loop.create_connection(lambda: self, ssl=ssl_context,
-                                                          sock=self.socket,
-                                                          server_hostname=self.default_domain)
-        async def ssl_coro():
-            try:
-                transp, prot = await ssl_connect_routine
-            except ssl.SSLError as e:
-                log.debug('SSL: Unable to connect', exc_info=True)
-                log.error('CERT: Invalid certificate trust chain.')
-                if not self.event_handled('ssl_invalid_chain'):
-                    self.disconnect()
-                else:
-                    self.event('ssl_invalid_chain', e)
+        try:
+            transp = await self.loop.start_tls(self.transport, self, ssl_context)
+        except ssl.SSLError as e:
+            log.debug('SSL: Unable to connect', exc_info=True)
+            log.error('CERT: Invalid certificate trust chain.')
+            if not self.event_handled('ssl_invalid_chain'):
+                self.disconnect()
             else:
-                # Workaround for a regression in 3.4 where ssl_object was not set.
-                der_cert = transp.get_extra_info("ssl_object",
-                                                 default=transp.get_extra_info("socket")).getpeercert(True)
-                pem_cert = ssl.DER_cert_to_PEM_cert(der_cert)
-                self.event('ssl_cert', pem_cert)
-
-        asyncio.ensure_future(ssl_coro())
+                self.event('ssl_invalid_chain', e)
+            return False
+        der_cert = transp.get_extra_info("ssl_object").getpeercert(True)
+        pem_cert = ssl.DER_cert_to_PEM_cert(der_cert)
+        self.event('ssl_cert', pem_cert)
+        self.connection_made(transp)
+        return True
 
     def _start_keepalive(self, event):
         """Begin sending whitespace periodically to keep the connection alive.