diff --git a/fig/cli/command.py b/fig/cli/command.py
index 268258993..0a224273c 100644
--- a/fig/cli/command.py
+++ b/fig/cli/command.py
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 class Command(DocoptCommand):
     base_dir = '.'
 
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.yaml_path = os.environ.get('FIG_FILE', None)
+
     def dispatch(self, *args, **kwargs):
         try:
             super(Command, self).dispatch(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -38,6 +41,11 @@ class Command(DocoptCommand):
             else:
                 raise errors.ConnectionErrorGeneric(self.client.base_url)
 
+    def perform_command(self, options, *args, **kwargs):
+        if options['--file'] is not None:
+            self.yaml_path = os.path.join(self.base_dir, options['--file'])
+        return super(Command, self).perform_command(options, *args, **kwargs)
+
     @cached_property
     def client(self):
         return Client(docker_url())
@@ -45,9 +53,10 @@ class Command(DocoptCommand):
     @cached_property
     def project(self):
         try:
-            yaml_path = self.check_yaml_filename()
+            yaml_path = self.yaml_path
+            if yaml_path is None:
+                yaml_path = self.check_yaml_filename()
             config = yaml.load(open(yaml_path))
-
         except IOError as e:
             if e.errno == errno.ENOENT:
                 raise errors.FigFileNotFound(os.path.basename(e.filename))
diff --git a/fig/cli/main.py b/fig/cli/main.py
index dfd02d0bb..e6a8f5ff5 100644
--- a/fig/cli/main.py
+++ b/fig/cli/main.py
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ class TopLevelCommand(Command):
     Options:
       --verbose            Show more output
       --version            Print version and exit
+      -f, --file FILE      Specify an alternate fig file (default: fig.yml)
 
     Commands:
       build     Build or rebuild services
diff --git a/tests/cli_test.py b/tests/cli_test.py
index b6d02daad..38a9cd28c 100644
--- a/tests/cli_test.py
+++ b/tests/cli_test.py
@@ -31,6 +31,28 @@ class CLITestCase(DockerClientTestCase):
         self.command.dispatch(['ps'], None)
         self.assertIn('fig_simple_1', mock_stdout.getvalue())
 
+    @patch('sys.stdout', new_callable=StringIO)
+    def test_default_figfile(self, mock_stdout):
+        self.command.base_dir = 'tests/fixtures/multiple-figfiles'
+        self.command.dispatch(['up', '-d'], None)
+        self.command.dispatch(['ps'], None)
+
+        output = mock_stdout.getvalue()
+        self.assertIn('fig_simple_1', output)
+        self.assertIn('fig_another_1', output)
+        self.assertNotIn('fig_yetanother_1', output)
+
+    @patch('sys.stdout', new_callable=StringIO)
+    def test_alternate_figfile(self, mock_stdout):
+        self.command.base_dir = 'tests/fixtures/multiple-figfiles'
+        self.command.dispatch(['-f', 'fig2.yml', 'up', '-d'], None)
+        self.command.dispatch(['-f', 'fig2.yml', 'ps'], None)
+
+        output = mock_stdout.getvalue()
+        self.assertNotIn('fig_simple_1', output)
+        self.assertNotIn('fig_another_1', output)
+        self.assertIn('fig_yetanother_1', output)
+
     def test_scale(self):
         project = self.command.project
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/multiple-figfiles/fig.yml b/tests/fixtures/multiple-figfiles/fig.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..225323755
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/multiple-figfiles/fig.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+simple:
+  image: ubuntu
+  command: /bin/sleep 300
+another:
+  image: ubuntu
+  command: /bin/sleep 300
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/multiple-figfiles/fig2.yml b/tests/fixtures/multiple-figfiles/fig2.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..330ed771d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/multiple-figfiles/fig2.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+yetanother:
+  image: ubuntu
+  command: /bin/sleep 300