diff --git a/src/protocol/frame/frame.rs b/src/protocol/frame/frame.rs
index de9ef59..f3a81e8 100644
--- a/src/protocol/frame/frame.rs
+++ b/src/protocol/frame/frame.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,26 @@ fn apply_mask(buf: &mut [u8], mask: &[u8; 4]) {
     }
 }
 
+/// Faster version of `apply_mask()` which operates on 4-byte blocks.
+///
+/// Safety: `buf` must be at least 4-bytes aligned.
+unsafe fn apply_mask_aligned32(buf: &mut [u8], mask: &[u8; 4]) {
+    debug_assert_eq!(buf.as_ptr() as usize % 4, 0);
+
+    let mask_u32 = transmute(*mask);
+
+    let mut ptr = buf.as_mut_ptr() as *mut u32;
+    for _ in 0..(buf.len() / 4) {
+        *ptr ^= mask_u32;
+        ptr = ptr.offset(1);
+    }
+
+    // Possible last block with less than 4 bytes.
+    let last_block_start = buf.len() & !3;
+    let last_block = &mut buf[last_block_start..];
+    apply_mask(last_block, mask);
+}
+
 #[inline]
 fn generate_mask() -> [u8; 4] {
     rand::random()
@@ -174,7 +194,10 @@ impl Frame {
     #[inline]
     pub fn remove_mask(&mut self) {
         self.mask.and_then(|mask| {
-            Some(apply_mask(&mut self.payload, &mask))
+            // Assumes Vec's backing memory is at least 4-bytes aligned.
+            unsafe {
+                Some(apply_mask_aligned32(&mut self.payload, &mask))
+            }
         });
         self.mask = None;
     }
@@ -435,7 +458,10 @@ impl Frame {
 
         if self.is_masked() {
             let mask = self.mask.take().unwrap();
-            apply_mask(&mut self.payload, &mask);
+            // Assumes Vec's backing memory is at least 4-bytes aligned.
+            unsafe {
+                apply_mask_aligned32(&mut self.payload, &mask);
+            }
             try!(w.write(&mask));
         }
 
@@ -489,6 +515,24 @@ mod tests {
     use super::super::coding::{OpCode, Data};
     use std::io::Cursor;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_apply_mask() {
+        let mask = [
+            0x6d, 0xb6, 0xb2, 0x80,
+        ];
+        let unmasked = vec![
+            0xf3, 0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x80, 0x81, 0x82, 0xff, 0xfe, 0x00,
+        ];
+
+        let mut masked = unmasked.clone();
+        apply_mask(&mut masked, &mask);
+
+        let mut masked_aligned = unmasked.clone();
+        unsafe { apply_mask_aligned32(&mut masked_aligned, &mask) };
+
+        assert_eq!(masked, masked_aligned);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn parse() {
         let mut raw: Cursor<Vec<u8>> = Cursor::new(vec![