diff --git a/src/nacl/signing.py b/src/nacl/signing.py
index 158c7845..14f07bdf 100644
--- a/src/nacl/signing.py
+++ b/src/nacl/signing.py
@@ -143,33 +143,64 @@ class SigningKey(encoding.Encodable, StringFixer):
     value can be passed into the :class:`~nacl.signing.SigningKey` as a
     :func:`bytes` whose length is 32.
 
+    Alternatively, you can construct :class:`~nacl.signing.SigningKey` directly
+    from a 64-byte Ed25519 private key. You must provide either a seed or a key,
+    but not both.
+
     .. warning:: This **must** be protected and remain secret. Anyone who knows
         the value of your :class:`~nacl.signing.SigningKey` or it's seed can
         masquerade as you.
 
-    :param seed: [:class:`bytes`] Random 32-byte value (i.e. private key)
+    :param seed: [:class:`bytes`] Random 32-byte value for generating Ed25519 private key
     :param encoder: A class that is able to decode the seed
+    :param secret_key: [:class:`bytes`] A previously generated 64-byte Ed25519 private key
 
     :ivar: verify_key: [:class:`~nacl.signing.VerifyKey`] The verify
         (i.e. public) key that corresponds with this signing key.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, seed, encoder=encoding.RawEncoder):
-        # Decode the seed
-        seed = encoder.decode(seed)
-        if not isinstance(seed, bytes):
-            raise exc.TypeError(
-                "SigningKey must be created from a 32 byte seed"
-            )
+    def __init__(
+        self, seed=None, encoder=encoding.RawEncoder, secret_key=None
+    ):
+        exc.ensure(
+            (secret_key is not None and seed is None)
+            or (secret_key is None and seed is not None),
+            "SigningKey must be created either from a 32 byte seed or a 64 byte key.",
+        )
+        if seed is not None:
+            # Decode the seed
+            seed = encoder.decode(seed)
+            if not isinstance(seed, bytes):
+                raise exc.TypeError(
+                    "SigningKey must be created from a 32 byte seed"
+                )
 
-        # Verify that our seed is the proper size
-        if len(seed) != nacl.bindings.crypto_sign_SEEDBYTES:
-            raise exc.ValueError(
-                "The seed must be exactly %d bytes long"
-                % nacl.bindings.crypto_sign_SEEDBYTES
+            # Verify that our seed is the proper size
+            if len(seed) != nacl.bindings.crypto_sign_SEEDBYTES:
+                raise exc.ValueError(
+                    "The seed must be exactly %d bytes long"
+                    % nacl.bindings.crypto_sign_SEEDBYTES
+                )
+
+            public_key, secret_key = nacl.bindings.crypto_sign_seed_keypair(
+                seed
             )
+        else:
+            # Decode the key
+            secret_key = encoder.decode(secret_key)
+            if not isinstance(secret_key, bytes):
+                raise exc.TypeError(
+                    "SigningKey must be created from a 64 byte key"
+                )
 
-        public_key, secret_key = nacl.bindings.crypto_sign_seed_keypair(seed)
+            # Verify that our key is the proper size
+            if len(secret_key) != nacl.bindings.crypto_sign_SECRETKEYBYTES:
+                raise exc.ValueError(
+                    "The key must be exactly %d bytes long"
+                    % nacl.bindings.crypto_sign_SECRETKEYBYTES
+                )
+            public_key = nacl.bindings.crypto_sign_ed25519_sk_to_pk(secret_key)
+            seed = nacl.bindings.crypto_sign_ed25519_sk_to_seed(secret_key)
 
         self._seed = seed
         self._signing_key = secret_key
diff --git a/tests/test_signing.py b/tests/test_signing.py
index 6d10c51c..2e399edc 100644
--- a/tests/test_signing.py
+++ b/tests/test_signing.py
@@ -17,7 +17,11 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from nacl.bindings import crypto_sign_PUBLICKEYBYTES, crypto_sign_SEEDBYTES
+from nacl.bindings import (
+    crypto_sign_PUBLICKEYBYTES,
+    crypto_sign_SECRETKEYBYTES,
+    crypto_sign_SEEDBYTES,
+)
 from nacl.encoding import Base64Encoder, HexEncoder
 from nacl.exceptions import BadSignatureError
 from nacl.signing import SignedMessage, SigningKey, VerifyKey
@@ -90,6 +94,37 @@ def test_different_keys_are_not_equal(self, k2):
     def test_initialization_with_seed(self, seed):
         SigningKey(seed, encoder=HexEncoder)
 
+    def test_initialize_with_secret_key(self):
+        k = SigningKey.generate()
+        seed_bytes = k._seed
+        secret_key_bytes = k._signing_key
+        k_from_seed = SigningKey(seed=seed_bytes)
+        k_from_secret_key = SigningKey(secret_key=secret_key_bytes)
+        assert_equal(k, k_from_seed)
+        assert_equal(k, k_from_secret_key)
+        assert id(k) != id(k_from_seed)
+        assert id(k) != id(k_from_secret_key)
+        assert id(k_from_secret_key) != id(k_from_seed)
+
+    def test_initialization_with_secret_key_and_seed(self):
+        with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
+            SigningKey(
+                seed=b"\x00" * crypto_sign_SEEDBYTES,
+                secret_key=b"\x00" * crypto_sign_SECRETKEYBYTES,
+            )
+
+    def test_initialization_without_arguments(self):
+        with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
+            SigningKey()
+
+    def test_wrong_key_length(self):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            SigningKey(secret_key=b"\x00" * 5)
+
+    def test_wrong_secret_key_type(self):
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+            SigningKey(secret_key=12)
+
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         ("seed", "_public_key", "message", "signature", "expected"),
         ed25519_known_answers(),