diff --git a/lib/foreman/cli.rb b/lib/foreman/cli.rb
index a32e156..fef13d5 100644
--- a/lib/foreman/cli.rb
+++ b/lib/foreman/cli.rb
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ require "yaml"
 class Foreman::CLI < Thor
 
   class_option :procfile, :type => :string, :aliases => "-f", :desc => "Default: Procfile"
+  class_option :app_root, :type => :string, :aliases => "-d", :desc => "Default: Procfile directory"
 
   desc "start [PROCESS]", "Start the application, or a specific process"
 
diff --git a/lib/foreman/engine.rb b/lib/foreman/engine.rb
index c74c9cb..c254c30 100644
--- a/lib/foreman/engine.rb
+++ b/lib/foreman/engine.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class Foreman::Engine
 
   def initialize(procfile, options={})
     @procfile  = Foreman::Procfile.new(procfile)
-    @directory = File.expand_path(File.dirname(procfile))
+    @directory = options[:app_root] || File.expand_path(File.dirname(procfile))
     @options = options
     @environment = read_environment_files(options[:env])
   end