diff --git a/bin/cmd.js b/bin/cmd.js
index 8a8f573..9fd2ca9 100755
--- a/bin/cmd.js
+++ b/bin/cmd.js
@@ -9,6 +9,13 @@ var argv = minimist(process.argv.slice(2))
 
 var command = argv._[0]
 
+if (argv['file'])
+{
+  var file = argv['file']
+  console.log(chalk.yellow('Opening file: ' + file))
+  hostile.setFile(file);
+}
+
 if (command === 'list' || command === 'ls') list()
 if (command === 'set') set(argv._[1], argv._[2])
 if (command === 'remove') remove(argv._[1])
@@ -30,6 +37,8 @@ function help () {
       remove [domain]        Remove a domain from the hosts file
       load [file]            Load a set of host entries from a file
       unload [file]          Remove a set of host entries from a file
+      
+      optional --file parameter to all commands to allow for manipulating other hosts files in non standard locations
 
   */ }.toString().split(/\n/).slice(1, -1).join('\n'))
 }
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index d1e7bcf..f369283 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ exports.HOSTS = WINDOWS
  * @param  {function(err, lines)=} cb
  */
 
+exports.setFile = function(filePath)
+{
+  exports.HOSTS = filePath
+}
+
 exports.getFile = function (filePath, preserveFormatting, cb) {
   var lines = []
   if (typeof cb !== 'function') {