diff --git a/doc/rtorrent.1 b/doc/rtorrent.1
index 6bc74593..c6964210 100644
--- a/doc/rtorrent.1
+++ b/doc/rtorrent.1
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 .\" <http://shell.ipoline.com/~elmert/comp/docbook2X/> 
 .\" Please send any bug reports, improvements, comments, patches, 
 .\" etc. to Steve Cheng <steve@ggi-project.org>.
-.TH "RTORRENT" "1" "21 October 2006" "BitTorrent client for ncurses" ""
+.TH "RTORRENT" "1" "25 October 2006" "BitTorrent client for ncurses" ""
 
 .SH NAME
 rtorrent \- a BitTorrent client for ncurses
@@ -425,9 +425,12 @@ Controls if a lock file is created in the session directory on startup.
 Save the session files for all downloads.
 .TP
 \fBtos = \fIdefault|lowdelay|throughput|reliability|mincost\fB\fR
+.TP
+\fBtos = \fIhex\fB\fR
 Change the TOS of peer connections, by default set to
 \fBthroughput\fR\&. If the option is set to
-\fBdefault\fR then the system default TOS is used.
+\fBdefault\fR then the system default TOS is used. A
+hex value may be used for non-standard settings.
 .TP
 \fBhandshake_log = \fIyes\fB\fR
 Enable logging of the peer handshake. This generates a large number of
diff --git a/doc/rtorrent.1.xml b/doc/rtorrent.1.xml
index 5a07e25b..f987a17b 100644
--- a/doc/rtorrent.1.xml
+++ b/doc/rtorrent.1.xml
@@ -897,12 +897,12 @@ Save the session files for all downloads.
 
       <varlistentry>
         <term>tos = <replaceable>default|lowdelay|throughput|reliability|mincost</replaceable></term>
+        <term>tos = <replaceable>hex</replaceable></term>
         <listitem><para>
-
 Change the TOS of peer connections, by default set to
 <emphasis>throughput</emphasis>. If the option is set to
-<emphasis>default</emphasis> then the system default TOS is used.
-
+<emphasis>default</emphasis> then the system default TOS is used. A
+hex value may be used for non-standard settings.
         </para></listitem>
       </varlistentry>
 
diff --git a/src/option_handler_rules.cc b/src/option_handler_rules.cc
index bd469091..f91ff5f9 100644
--- a/src/option_handler_rules.cc
+++ b/src/option_handler_rules.cc
@@ -279,25 +279,28 @@ apply_enable_trackers(Control* m, __UNUSED const std::string& arg) {
 
 void
 apply_tos(const std::string& arg) {
+  utils::Variable::value_type value;
   torrent::ConnectionManager* cm = torrent::connection_manager();
 
   if (arg == "default")
-    cm->set_priority(torrent::ConnectionManager::iptos_default);
+    value = torrent::ConnectionManager::iptos_default;
 
   else if (arg == "lowdelay")
-    cm->set_priority(torrent::ConnectionManager::iptos_lowdelay);
+    value = torrent::ConnectionManager::iptos_lowdelay;
 
   else if (arg == "throughput")
-    cm->set_priority(torrent::ConnectionManager::iptos_throughput);
+    value = torrent::ConnectionManager::iptos_throughput;
 
   else if (arg == "reliability")
-    cm->set_priority(torrent::ConnectionManager::iptos_reliability);
+    value = torrent::ConnectionManager::iptos_reliability;
 
   else if (arg == "mincost")
-    cm->set_priority(torrent::ConnectionManager::iptos_mincost);
+    value = torrent::ConnectionManager::iptos_mincost;
 
-  else 
+  else if (!utils::Variable::string_to_value_unit_nothrow(arg.c_str(), &value, 16, 0))
     throw torrent::input_error("Invalid TOS identifier.");
+
+  cm->set_priority(value);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/utils/variable.cc b/src/utils/variable.cc
index 161e352e..42e8c260 100644
--- a/src/utils/variable.cc
+++ b/src/utils/variable.cc
@@ -94,4 +94,15 @@ Variable::string_to_value_unit(const char* pos, value_type* value, int base, int
   return last;
 }
 
+bool
+Variable::string_to_value_unit_nothrow(const char* pos, value_type* value, int base, int unit) {
+  try {
+    string_to_value_unit(pos, value, base, unit);
+
+    return true;
+  } catch (const torrent::input_error& e) {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
 }
diff --git a/src/utils/variable.h b/src/utils/variable.h
index e2130bc1..b2a4048e 100644
--- a/src/utils/variable.h
+++ b/src/utils/variable.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ public:
   virtual void                   set(const torrent::Object& arg) = 0;
 
   static const char*  string_to_value_unit(const char* pos, value_type* value, int base, int unit);
+  static bool         string_to_value_unit_nothrow(const char* pos, value_type* value, int base, int unit);
 
 protected:
   Variable(const Variable&);