diff --git a/lib/commands.py b/lib/commands.py
index 1ea5226df..15fd10fda 100644
--- a/lib/commands.py
+++ b/lib/commands.py
@@ -755,6 +755,7 @@ def get_parser():
     parent_parser = argparse.ArgumentParser('parent', add_help=False)
     group = parent_parser.add_argument_group('global options')
     group.add_argument("-v", "--verbose", action="store_true", dest="verbose", default=False, help="Show debugging information")
+    group.add_argument("-D", "--dir", dest="electrum_path", help="electrum directory")
     group.add_argument("-P", "--portable", action="store_true", dest="portable", default=False, help="Use local 'electrum_data' directory")
     group.add_argument("-w", "--wallet", dest="wallet_path", help="wallet path")
     # create main parser