diff --git a/standardricochetservice.go b/standardricochetservice.go
index a3688e4..1f404e8 100644
--- a/standardricochetservice.go
+++ b/standardricochetservice.go
@@ -22,21 +22,26 @@ type StandardRicochetService struct {
 
 // Init initializes a StandardRicochetService with the cryptographic key given
 // by filename.
-func (srs *StandardRicochetService) Init(filename string) error {
-	srs.ricochet = new(Ricochet)
-	srs.ricochet.Init()
-
+func (srs *StandardRicochetService) InitFromKeyFile(filename string) error {
 	pemData, err := ioutil.ReadFile(filename)
 
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.New("Could not setup ricochet service: could not read private key")
 	}
+	return srs.InitFromKey(pemData)
+}
+
+// Init initializes a StandardRicochetService with the cryptographic key
+func (srs *StandardRicochetService) InitFromKey(pemData []byte) error {
+	srs.ricochet = new(Ricochet)
+	srs.ricochet.Init()
 
 	block, _ := pem.Decode(pemData)
 	if block == nil || block.Type != "RSA PRIVATE KEY" {
 		return errors.New("Could not setup ricochet service: no valid PEM data found")
 	}
 
+	var err error
 	srs.privateKey, err = x509.ParsePKCS1PrivateKey(block.Bytes)
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.New("Could not setup ricochet service: could not parse private key")