diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index b9b8f7baf..5abb33737 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ OSX_QT_TRANSLATIONS = da,de,es,hu,ru,uk,zh_CN,zh_TW
 
 DIST_DOCS = $(wildcard doc/*.md) $(wildcard doc/release-notes/*.md)
 
+BIN_CHECKS=$(top_srcdir)/contrib/devtools/symbol-check.py \
+           $(top_srcdir)/contrib/devtools/security-check.py
+
 WINDOWS_PACKAGING = $(top_srcdir)/share/pixmaps/bitcoin.ico \
   $(top_srcdir)/share/pixmaps/nsis-header.bmp \
   $(top_srcdir)/share/pixmaps/nsis-wizard.bmp \
@@ -222,7 +225,7 @@ endif
 
 dist_noinst_SCRIPTS = autogen.sh
 
-EXTRA_DIST = $(top_srcdir)/share/genbuild.sh qa/pull-tester/rpc-tests.sh qa/pull-tester/run-bitcoin-cli qa/rpc-tests qa/zcash $(DIST_DOCS) $(WINDOWS_PACKAGING) $(OSX_PACKAGING)
+EXTRA_DIST = $(top_srcdir)/share/genbuild.sh qa/pull-tester/rpc-tests.sh qa/pull-tester/run-bitcoin-cli qa/rpc-tests qa/zcash $(DIST_DOCS) $(WINDOWS_PACKAGING) $(OSX_PACKAGING) $(BIN_CHECKS)
 
 CLEANFILES = $(OSX_DMG) $(BITCOIN_WIN_INSTALLER)
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index c94c8d9dc..eaff19ade 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ AC_PATH_PROG([GIT], [git])
 AC_PATH_PROG(CCACHE,ccache)
 AC_PATH_PROG(XGETTEXT,xgettext)
 AC_PATH_PROG(HEXDUMP,hexdump)
+AC_PATH_TOOL(READELF,readelf)
+AC_PATH_TOOL(CPPFILT,c++filt)
 
 dnl pkg-config check.
 PKG_PROG_PKG_CONFIG
@@ -896,6 +898,7 @@ AM_CONDITIONAL([USE_LCOV],[test x$use_lcov = xyes])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([USE_COMPARISON_TOOL],[test x$use_comparison_tool != xno])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([USE_COMPARISON_TOOL_REORG_TESTS],[test x$use_comparison_tool_reorg_test != xno])
 AM_CONDITIONAL([GLIBC_BACK_COMPAT],[test x$use_glibc_compat = xyes])
+AM_CONDITIONAL([HARDEN],[test x$use_hardening = xyes])
 
 AC_DEFINE(CLIENT_VERSION_MAJOR, _CLIENT_VERSION_MAJOR, [Major version])
 AC_DEFINE(CLIENT_VERSION_MINOR, _CLIENT_VERSION_MINOR, [Minor version])
diff --git a/contrib/devtools/security-check.py b/contrib/devtools/security-check.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..301fea85c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/devtools/security-check.py
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python2
+'''
+Perform basic ELF security checks on a series of executables.
+Exit status will be 0 if successful, and the program will be silent.
+Otherwise the exit status will be 1 and it will log which executables failed which checks.
+Needs `readelf` (for ELF) and `objdump` (for PE).
+'''
+from __future__ import division,print_function,unicode_literals
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import os
+
+READELF_CMD = os.getenv('READELF', '/usr/bin/readelf')
+OBJDUMP_CMD = os.getenv('OBJDUMP', '/usr/bin/objdump')
+
+def check_ELF_PIE(executable):
+    '''
+    Check for position independent executable (PIE), allowing for address space randomization.
+    '''
+    p = subprocess.Popen([READELF_CMD, '-h', '-W', executable], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
+    (stdout, stderr) = p.communicate()
+    if p.returncode:
+        raise IOError('Error opening file')
+
+    ok = False
+    for line in stdout.split(b'\n'):
+        line = line.split()
+        if len(line)>=2 and line[0] == b'Type:' and line[1] == b'DYN':
+            ok = True
+    return ok
+
+def get_ELF_program_headers(executable):
+    '''Return type and flags for ELF program headers'''
+    p = subprocess.Popen([READELF_CMD, '-l', '-W', executable], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
+    (stdout, stderr) = p.communicate()
+    if p.returncode:
+        raise IOError('Error opening file')
+    in_headers = False
+    count = 0
+    headers = []
+    for line in stdout.split(b'\n'):
+        if line.startswith(b'Program Headers:'):
+            in_headers = True
+        if line == b'':
+            in_headers = False
+        if in_headers:
+            if count == 1: # header line
+                ofs_typ = line.find(b'Type')
+                ofs_offset = line.find(b'Offset')
+                ofs_flags = line.find(b'Flg')
+                ofs_align = line.find(b'Align')
+                if ofs_typ == -1 or ofs_offset == -1 or ofs_flags == -1 or ofs_align  == -1:
+                    raise ValueError('Cannot parse elfread -lW output')
+            elif count > 1:
+                typ = line[ofs_typ:ofs_offset].rstrip()
+                flags = line[ofs_flags:ofs_align].rstrip()
+                headers.append((typ, flags))
+            count += 1
+    return headers
+
+def check_ELF_NX(executable):
+    '''
+    Check that no sections are writable and executable (including the stack)
+    '''
+    have_wx = False
+    have_gnu_stack = False
+    for (typ, flags) in get_ELF_program_headers(executable):
+        if typ == b'GNU_STACK':
+            have_gnu_stack = True
+        if b'W' in flags and b'E' in flags: # section is both writable and executable
+            have_wx = True
+    return have_gnu_stack and not have_wx
+
+def check_ELF_RELRO(executable):
+    '''
+    Check for read-only relocations.
+    GNU_RELRO program header must exist
+    Dynamic section must have BIND_NOW flag
+    '''
+    have_gnu_relro = False
+    for (typ, flags) in get_ELF_program_headers(executable):
+        # Note: not checking flags == 'R': here as linkers set the permission differently
+        # This does not affect security: the permission flags of the GNU_RELRO program header are ignored, the PT_LOAD header determines the effective permissions.
+        # However, the dynamic linker need to write to this area so these are RW.
+        # Glibc itself takes care of mprotecting this area R after relocations are finished.
+        # See also http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.comp.gnu.binutils/71347
+        if typ == b'GNU_RELRO':
+            have_gnu_relro = True
+
+    have_bindnow = False
+    p = subprocess.Popen([READELF_CMD, '-d', '-W', executable], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
+    (stdout, stderr) = p.communicate()
+    if p.returncode:
+        raise IOError('Error opening file')
+    for line in stdout.split(b'\n'):
+        tokens = line.split()
+        if len(tokens)>1 and tokens[1] == b'(BIND_NOW)' or (len(tokens)>2 and tokens[1] == b'(FLAGS)' and b'BIND_NOW' in tokens[2]):
+            have_bindnow = True
+    return have_gnu_relro and have_bindnow
+
+def check_ELF_Canary(executable):
+    '''
+    Check for use of stack canary
+    '''
+    p = subprocess.Popen([READELF_CMD, '--dyn-syms', '-W', executable], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
+    (stdout, stderr) = p.communicate()
+    if p.returncode:
+        raise IOError('Error opening file')
+    ok = False
+    for line in stdout.split(b'\n'):
+        if b'__stack_chk_fail' in line:
+            ok = True
+    return ok
+
+def get_PE_dll_characteristics(executable):
+    '''
+    Get PE DllCharacteristics bits
+    '''
+    p = subprocess.Popen([OBJDUMP_CMD, '-x',  executable], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
+    (stdout, stderr) = p.communicate()
+    if p.returncode:
+        raise IOError('Error opening file')
+    for line in stdout.split('\n'):
+        tokens = line.split()
+        if len(tokens)>=2 and tokens[0] == 'DllCharacteristics':
+            return int(tokens[1],16)
+    return 0
+
+
+def check_PE_PIE(executable):
+    '''PIE: DllCharacteristics bit 0x40 signifies dynamicbase (ASLR)'''
+    return bool(get_PE_dll_characteristics(executable) & 0x40)
+
+def check_PE_NX(executable):
+    '''NX: DllCharacteristics bit 0x100 signifies nxcompat (DEP)'''
+    return bool(get_PE_dll_characteristics(executable) & 0x100)
+
+CHECKS = {
+'ELF': [
+    ('PIE', check_ELF_PIE),
+    ('NX', check_ELF_NX),
+    ('RELRO', check_ELF_RELRO),
+    ('Canary', check_ELF_Canary)
+],
+'PE': [
+    ('PIE', check_PE_PIE),
+    ('NX', check_PE_NX)
+]
+}
+
+def identify_executable(executable):
+    with open(filename, 'rb') as f:
+        magic = f.read(4)
+    if magic.startswith(b'MZ'):
+        return 'PE'
+    elif magic.startswith(b'\x7fELF'):
+        return 'ELF'
+    return None
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    retval = 0
+    for filename in sys.argv[1:]:
+        try:
+            etype = identify_executable(filename)
+            if etype is None:
+                print('%s: unknown format' % filename)
+                retval = 1
+                continue
+
+            failed = []
+            for (name, func) in CHECKS[etype]:
+                if not func(filename):
+                    failed.append(name)
+            if failed:
+                print('%s: failed %s' % (filename, ' '.join(failed)))
+                retval = 1
+        except IOError:
+            print('%s: cannot open' % filename)
+            retval = 1
+    exit(retval)
+
diff --git a/contrib/devtools/test-security-check.py b/contrib/devtools/test-security-check.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..fed7626aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/devtools/test-security-check.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python2
+'''
+Test script for security-check.py
+'''
+from __future__ import division,print_function
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import unittest
+
+def write_testcode(filename):
+    with open(filename, 'w') as f:
+        f.write('''
+    #include <stdio.h>
+    int main()
+    {
+        printf("the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy god\\n");
+        return 0;
+    }
+    ''')
+
+def call_security_check(cc, source, executable, options):
+    subprocess.check_call([cc,source,'-o',executable] + options)
+    p = subprocess.Popen(['./security-check.py',executable], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
+    (stdout, stderr) = p.communicate()
+    return (p.returncode, stdout.rstrip())
+
+class TestSecurityChecks(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_ELF(self):
+        source = 'test1.c'
+        executable = 'test1'
+        cc = 'gcc'
+        write_testcode(source)
+
+        self.assertEqual(call_security_check(cc, source, executable, ['-Wl,-zexecstack','-fno-stack-protector','-Wl,-znorelro']), 
+                (1, executable+': failed PIE NX RELRO Canary'))
+        self.assertEqual(call_security_check(cc, source, executable, ['-Wl,-znoexecstack','-fno-stack-protector','-Wl,-znorelro']), 
+                (1, executable+': failed PIE RELRO Canary'))
+        self.assertEqual(call_security_check(cc, source, executable, ['-Wl,-znoexecstack','-fstack-protector-all','-Wl,-znorelro']), 
+                (1, executable+': failed PIE RELRO'))
+        self.assertEqual(call_security_check(cc, source, executable, ['-Wl,-znoexecstack','-fstack-protector-all','-Wl,-znorelro','-pie','-fPIE']), 
+                (1, executable+': failed RELRO'))
+        self.assertEqual(call_security_check(cc, source, executable, ['-Wl,-znoexecstack','-fstack-protector-all','-Wl,-zrelro','-Wl,-z,now','-pie','-fPIE']), 
+                (0, ''))
+
+    def test_PE(self):
+        source = 'test1.c'
+        executable = 'test1.exe'
+        cc = 'i686-w64-mingw32-gcc'
+        write_testcode(source)
+
+        self.assertEqual(call_security_check(cc, source, executable, []), 
+                (1, executable+': failed PIE NX'))
+        self.assertEqual(call_security_check(cc, source, executable, ['-Wl,--nxcompat']), 
+                (1, executable+': failed PIE'))
+        self.assertEqual(call_security_check(cc, source, executable, ['-Wl,--nxcompat','-Wl,--dynamicbase']), 
+                (0, ''))
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
+
diff --git a/contrib/gitian-descriptors/gitian-linux.yml b/contrib/gitian-descriptors/gitian-linux.yml
index 0f7c5ad59..d4df9eceb 100644
--- a/contrib/gitian-descriptors/gitian-linux.yml
+++ b/contrib/gitian-descriptors/gitian-linux.yml
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ script: |
 
     ./configure --prefix=${BASEPREFIX}/${i} --bindir=${INSTALLPATH}/bin --includedir=${INSTALLPATH}/include --libdir=${INSTALLPATH}/lib --disable-ccache --disable-maintainer-mode --disable-dependency-tracking ${CONFIGFLAGS}
     make ${MAKEOPTS}
+    make ${MAKEOPTS} -C src check-security
     make install-strip
     cd installed
     find . -name "lib*.la" -delete
diff --git a/contrib/gitian-descriptors/gitian-win.yml b/contrib/gitian-descriptors/gitian-win.yml
index 1ba200c8a..5b3aa41e8 100644
--- a/contrib/gitian-descriptors/gitian-win.yml
+++ b/contrib/gitian-descriptors/gitian-win.yml
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ script: |
 
     ./configure --prefix=${BASEPREFIX}/${i} --bindir=${INSTALLPATH}/bin --includedir=${INSTALLPATH}/include --libdir=${INSTALLPATH}/lib --disable-ccache --disable-maintainer-mode --disable-dependency-tracking ${CONFIGFLAGS}
     make ${MAKEOPTS}
+    make ${MAKEOPTS} -C src check-security
     make deploy
     make install-strip
     cp -f bitcoin-*setup*.exe $OUTDIR/
diff --git a/qa/zcash/check-security-hardening.sh b/qa/zcash/check-security-hardening.sh
index 0d63214de..8e36cd84d 100755
--- a/qa/zcash/check-security-hardening.sh
+++ b/qa/zcash/check-security-hardening.sh
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@ set -e
 
 REPOROOT="$(readlink -f "$(dirname "$0")"/../../)"
 
-function test_basic_hardening {
-    if "${REPOROOT}/qa/zcash/checksec.sh" --file "$1" | grep -q "Full RELRO.*Canary found.*NX enabled.*No RPATH.*No RUNPATH"; then
-        echo PASS: "$1" has basic hardening features enabled.
+function test_rpath_runpath {
+    if "${REPOROOT}/qa/zcash/checksec.sh" --file "$1" | grep -q "No RPATH.*No RUNPATH"; then
+        echo PASS: "$1" has no RPATH or RUNPATH.
         return 0
     else
-        echo FAIL: "$1" is missing basic hardening features.
+        echo FAIL: "$1" has an RPATH or a RUNPATH.
         "${REPOROOT}/qa/zcash/checksec.sh" --file "$1"
         return 1
     fi
@@ -26,10 +26,15 @@ function test_fortify_source {
     fi
 }
 
-test_basic_hardening "${REPOROOT}/src/zcashd"
-test_basic_hardening "${REPOROOT}/src/zcash-cli"
-test_basic_hardening "${REPOROOT}/src/zcash-gtest"
-test_basic_hardening "${REPOROOT}/src/bitcoin-tx"
+# PIE, RELRO, Canary, and NX are tested by make check-security.
+make -C "$REPOROOT/src" check-security
+
+test_rpath_runpath "${REPOROOT}/src/zcashd"
+test_rpath_runpath "${REPOROOT}/src/zcash-cli"
+test_rpath_runpath "${REPOROOT}/src/zcash-gtest"
+test_rpath_runpath "${REPOROOT}/src/bitcoin-tx"
+test_rpath_runpath "${REPOROOT}/src/test/test_bitcoin"
+test_rpath_runpath "${REPOROOT}/src/zcash/GenerateParams"
 
 # NOTE: checksec.sh does not reliably determine whether FORTIFY_SOURCE is
 # enabled for the entire binary. See issue #915.
@@ -37,3 +42,5 @@ test_fortify_source "${REPOROOT}/src/zcashd"
 test_fortify_source "${REPOROOT}/src/zcash-cli"
 test_fortify_source "${REPOROOT}/src/zcash-gtest"
 test_fortify_source "${REPOROOT}/src/bitcoin-tx"
+test_fortify_source "${REPOROOT}/src/test/test_bitcoin"
+test_fortify_source "${REPOROOT}/src/zcash/GenerateParams"
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index e023f95da..458cc9f2c 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ LIBZCASH_H = \
   zcash/prf.h \
   zcash/util.h
 
-.PHONY: FORCE
+.PHONY: FORCE check-security
 # bitcoin core #
 BITCOIN_CORE_H = \
   addrman.h \
@@ -469,6 +469,12 @@ clean-local:
 	$(AM_V_CXX) $(OBJCXX) $(DEFS) $(DEFAULT_INCLUDES) $(INCLUDES) $(AM_CPPFLAGS) \
 	  $(CPPFLAGS) $(AM_CXXFLAGS) $(QT_INCLUDES) $(CXXFLAGS)  -c -o $@ $<
 
+check-security: $(bin_PROGRAMS)
+if HARDEN
+	@echo "Checking binary security of [$(bin_PROGRAMS)]..."
+	$(AM_V_at) READELF=$(READELF) OBJDUMP=$(OBJDUMP) $(top_srcdir)/contrib/devtools/security-check.py < $(bin_PROGRAMS)
+endif
+
 %.pb.cc %.pb.h: %.proto
 	@test -f $(PROTOC)
 	$(AM_V_GEN) $(PROTOC) --cpp_out=$(@D) --proto_path=$(abspath $(<D) $<)