diff --git a/src/core/lib/channel/handshaker.c b/src/core/lib/channel/handshaker.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..00d810e63df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/lib/channel/handshaker.c
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/*
+ *
+ * Copyright 2016, Google Inc.
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+ * copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+ * in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ * distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Google Inc. nor the names of its
+ * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+ * this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ *
+ */
+
+#include "src/core/lib/channel/handshaker.h"
+
+void grpc_handshaker_init(const struct grpc_handshaker_vtable* vtable,
+                          grpc_handshaker** handshaker) {
+  handshaker->vtable = vtable;
+}
+
+void grpc_handshaker_destroy(grpc_exec_ctx* exec_ctx,
+                             grpc_handshaker* handshaker) {
+  handshaker->vtable->destroy(exec_ctx, handshaker);
+}
+
+void grpc_handshaker_do_handshake(
+    grpc_exec_ctx* exec_ctx, grpc_handshaker* handshaker,
+    grpc_endpoint* endpoint_in, gpr_timespec deadline, grpc_closure *on_done) {
+  handshaker->vtable->do_handshake(exec_ctx, handshaker, endpoint_in,
+                                   deadline, on_done);
+}
+
+#endif /* GRPC_CORE_LIB_CHANNEL_HANDSHAKER_H */
diff --git a/src/core/lib/channel/handshaker.h b/src/core/lib/channel/handshaker.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1ca85fd0088
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/lib/channel/handshaker.h
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+/*
+ *
+ * Copyright 2016, Google Inc.
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+ * copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+ * in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ * distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Google Inc. nor the names of its
+ * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+ * this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ *
+ */
+
+#ifndef GRPC_CORE_LIB_CHANNEL_HANDSHAKER_H
+#define GRPC_CORE_LIB_CHANNEL_HANDSHAKER_H
+
+#include <grpc/impl/codegen/time.h>
+
+#include "src/core/lib/iomgr/closure.h"
+#include "src/core/lib/iomgr/endpoint.h"
+#include "src/core/lib/iomgr/exec_ctx.h"
+
+// FIXME: document
+
+typedef struct grpc_handshaker grpc_handshaker;
+
+struct grpc_handshaker_vtable {
+  void (*destroy)(grpc_exec_ctx* exec_ctx, grpc_handshaker* handshaker);
+
+  void (*do_handshake)(
+      grpc_exec_ctx* exec_ctx, grpc_handshaker* handshaker,
+      grpc_endpoint* endpoint_in, gpr_timespec deadline,
+      grpc_closure *on_done);
+};
+
+struct grpc_handshaker {
+  const struct grpc_handshaker_vtable *vtable;
+};
+
+// Called by concrete implementations to initialize the base struct.
+void grpc_handshaker_init(const struct grpc_handshaker_vtable* vtable,
+                          grpc_handshaker** handshaker);
+
+// Convenient wrappers for invoking methods via the vtable.
+void grpc_handshaker_destroy(grpc_exec_ctx* exec_ctx,
+                             grpc_handshaker* handshaker);
+void grpc_handshaker_do_handshake(
+    grpc_exec_ctx* exec_ctx, grpc_handshaker* handshaker,
+    grpc_endpoint* in, gpr_timespec deadline, grpc_closure *on_done);
+
+#endif /* GRPC_CORE_LIB_CHANNEL_HANDSHAKER_H */