diff --git a/backportpackage b/backportpackage
index 8cb4617..f91ab5f 100755
--- a/backportpackage
+++ b/backportpackage
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ def parse(args):
                  default=get_value('LPINSTANCE'),
                  help='Launchpad instance to connect to (default: %default)',
                  metavar='INSTANCE')
+    p.add_option('--no-conf', '--noconf',
+                 dest='no_configuration',
+                 default=False,
+                 help="Don't read config files, must be the first option given",
+                 action='store_true')
 
     opts, args = p.parse_args(args)
     if len(args) != 1:
diff --git a/doc/backportpackage.1 b/doc/backportpackage.1
index e07cc40..4a44e06 100644
--- a/doc/backportpackage.1
+++ b/doc/backportpackage.1
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@ deleted before \fIbackportpackage\fR exits.
 .B \-l \fIINSTANCE\fR, \-\-launchpad=\fIINSTANCE\fR
 Use the specified instance of Launchpad (e.g. "staging"), instead of
 the default of "production".
+.TP
+.B \-\-no\-conf\fR, \fB\-\-noconf
+Do not read any configuration files.
+This can only be used as the first option given on the command\-line.
 .SH DESCRIPTION
 \fBbackportpackage\fR fetches a package from one Ubuntu release or
 from a specified .dsc path or URL and creates a no-change backport of