A method, system, and computer usable program product for certificate distribution using a secure handshake are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A client sends an indication in a request, the request being a part of a secure data communication with a server. The indication indicates an ability of the client to accept a certificate as a part of a response from the server. The server retrieves a new certificate. The server sends as a result of the indication, a new certificate in the response corresponding to the request. The client receives as a result of the indication, the new certificate in a response that corresponds to the request. The client separates the new certificate from the response and uses the new certificate in the secure data communication with the server. The server uses the new certificate in the secure data communication with the client.