diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index b51657a..48ec79d 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ exclude_lines = [
 
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "cryptojwt"
-version = "1.8.0"
+version = "1.8.1"
 description = "Python implementation of JWT, JWE, JWS and JWK"
 authors = ["Roland Hedberg <roland@catalogix.se>"]
 license = "Apache-2.0"
diff --git a/src/cryptojwt/jwe/fernet.py b/src/cryptojwt/jwe/fernet.py
index 3cca512..90b02d3 100644
--- a/src/cryptojwt/jwe/fernet.py
+++ b/src/cryptojwt/jwe/fernet.py
@@ -16,26 +16,34 @@
 class FernetEncrypter(Encrypter):
     def __init__(
         self,
-        password: str,
+        password: Optional[str] = None,
         salt: Optional[bytes] = "",
+        key: Optional[bytes] = None,
         hash_alg: Optional[str] = "SHA256",
         digest_size: Optional[int] = 0,
         iterations: Optional[int] = DEFAULT_ITERATIONS,
     ):
         Encrypter.__init__(self)
-        if not salt:
-            salt = os.urandom(16)
-        else:
-            salt = as_bytes(salt)
 
-        _alg = getattr(hashes, hash_alg)
-        # A bit special for SHAKE* and BLAKE* hashes
-        if hash_alg.startswith("SHAKE") or hash_alg.startswith("BLAKE"):
-            _algorithm = _alg(digest_size)
+        if password is not None:
+            _alg = getattr(hashes, hash_alg)
+            # A bit special for SHAKE* and BLAKE* hashes
+            if hash_alg.startswith("SHAKE") or hash_alg.startswith("BLAKE"):
+                _algorithm = _alg(digest_size)
+            else:
+                _algorithm = _alg()
+            salt = as_bytes(salt) if salt else os.urandom(16)
+            kdf = PBKDF2HMAC(algorithm=_algorithm, length=32, salt=salt, iterations=iterations)
+            self.key = base64.urlsafe_b64encode(kdf.derive(as_bytes(password)))
+        elif key is not None:
+            if not isinstance(key, bytes):
+                raise TypeError("Raw key must be bytes")
+            if len(key) != 32:
+                raise ValueError("Raw key must be 32 bytes")
+            self.key = base64.urlsafe_b64encode(key)
         else:
-            _algorithm = _alg()
-        kdf = PBKDF2HMAC(algorithm=_algorithm, length=32, salt=salt, iterations=iterations)
-        self.key = base64.urlsafe_b64encode(kdf.derive(as_bytes(password)))
+            self.key = Fernet.generate_key()
+
         self.core = Fernet(self.key)
 
     def encrypt(self, msg: Union[str, bytes], **kwargs) -> bytes:
diff --git a/tests/test_07_jwe.py b/tests/test_07_jwe.py
index ed6197b..82a3160 100644
--- a/tests/test_07_jwe.py
+++ b/tests/test_07_jwe.py
@@ -648,10 +648,46 @@ def test_invalid():
         decrypter.decrypt("a.b.c.d.e", keys=[encryption_key])
 
 
-def test_fernet():
+def test_fernet_password():
+    encrypter = FernetEncrypter(password="DukeofHazardpass")
+    _token = encrypter.encrypt(plain)
+
+    decrypter = encrypter
+    resp = decrypter.decrypt(_token)
+    assert resp == plain
+
+
+def test_fernet_symkey():
     encryption_key = SYMKey(use="enc", key="DukeofHazardpass", kid="some-key-id")
 
-    encrypter = FernetEncrypter(encryption_key.key)
+    encrypter = FernetEncrypter(password=encryption_key.key)
+    _token = encrypter.encrypt(plain)
+
+    decrypter = encrypter
+    resp = decrypter.decrypt(_token)
+    assert resp == plain
+
+
+def test_fernet_bad():
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        encrypter = FernetEncrypter(key="xyzzy")
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        encrypter = FernetEncrypter(key=os.urandom(16))
+
+
+def test_fernet_bytes():
+    key = os.urandom(32)
+
+    encrypter = FernetEncrypter(key=key)
+    _token = encrypter.encrypt(plain)
+
+    decrypter = encrypter
+    resp = decrypter.decrypt(_token)
+    assert resp == plain
+
+
+def test_fernet_default_key():
+    encrypter = FernetEncrypter()
     _token = encrypter.encrypt(plain)
 
     decrypter = encrypter
@@ -662,7 +698,7 @@ def test_fernet():
 def test_fernet_sha512():
     encryption_key = SYMKey(use="enc", key="DukeofHazardpass", kid="some-key-id")
 
-    encrypter = FernetEncrypter(encryption_key.key, hash_alg="SHA512")
+    encrypter = FernetEncrypter(password=encryption_key.key, hash_alg="SHA512")
     _token = encrypter.encrypt(plain)
 
     decrypter = encrypter
@@ -674,7 +710,7 @@ def test_fernet_blake2s():
     encryption_key = SYMKey(use="enc", key="DukeofHazardpass", kid="some-key-id")
 
     encrypter = FernetEncrypter(
-        encryption_key.key, hash_alg="BLAKE2s", digest_size=32, iterations=1000
+        password=encryption_key.key, hash_alg="BLAKE2s", digest_size=32, iterations=1000
     )
     _token = encrypter.encrypt(plain)