diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 5305ff8..f58bdad 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ function authorize(options, onConnection) {
 
   return function(socket, accept){
     var token, error;
+    var handshake = data.handshake;
     var req = socket.request || socket;
     var authorization_header = (req.headers || {}).authorization;
 
@@ -157,8 +158,11 @@ function authorize(options, onConnection) {
       }
     }
 
-    //get the token from query string
-    if (req._query && req._query.token) {
+    //get the token from handshake or query string
+    if (handshake && handshake.query.token){
+      token = handshake.query.token;
+    }
+    else if (req._query && req._query.token) {
       token = req._query.token;
     }
     else if (req.query && req.query.token) {