diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9e338242d..f5aabf193 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ at anytime.
   * Add `peer_port` to settings configurable using `settings_set`
   * Added an option to disable max key fee check.
   * Add `wallet_unlock`, a command available during startup to unlock an encrypted wallet
+  * Add `--conf` CLI flag to specify an alternate config file
 
 ### Changed
   * claim_show API command no longer takes name as argument
diff --git a/lbrynet/conf.py b/lbrynet/conf.py
index de48a7c65..3fad69588 100644
--- a/lbrynet/conf.py
+++ b/lbrynet/conf.py
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ settings_encoders = {
     '.yml': yaml.safe_dump
 }
 
+# set by CLI when the user specifies an alternate config file path
+conf_file = None
 
 def _win_path_to_bytes(path):
     """
@@ -311,6 +313,11 @@ class Config(object):
             TYPE_RUNTIME, TYPE_CLI, TYPE_ENV, TYPE_PERSISTED, TYPE_DEFAULT
         )
 
+        # types of data where user specified config values can be stored
+        self._user_specified = (
+            TYPE_RUNTIME, TYPE_CLI, TYPE_ENV, TYPE_PERSISTED
+        )
+
         self._data[TYPE_DEFAULT].update(self._fixed_defaults)
         self._data[TYPE_DEFAULT].update(
             {k: v[1] for (k, v) in self._adjustable_defaults.iteritems()})
@@ -383,6 +390,28 @@ class Config(object):
         if currency not in self._fixed_defaults['CURRENCIES'].keys():
             raise InvalidCurrencyError(currency)
 
+    def is_default(self, name):
+        """Check if a config value is wasn't specified by the user
+
+        Args:
+            name: the name of the value to check
+
+        Returns: true if config value is the default one, false if it was specified by
+        the user
+
+        Sometimes it may be helpful to understand if a config value was specified
+        by the user or if it still holds its default value. This function will return
+        true when the config value is still the default. Note that when the user
+        specifies a value that is equal to the default one, it will still be considered
+        as 'user specified'
+        """
+
+        self._assert_valid_setting(name)
+        for possible_data_type in self._user_specified:
+            if name in self._data[possible_data_type]:
+                return False
+        return True
+
     def get(self, name, data_type=None):
         """Get a config value
 
@@ -449,7 +478,11 @@ class Config(object):
             }
 
     def save_conf_file_settings(self):
-        path = self.get_conf_filename()
+        if conf_file:
+            path = conf_file
+        else:
+            path = self.get_conf_filename()
+
         ext = os.path.splitext(path)[1]
         encoder = settings_encoders.get(ext, False)
         assert encoder is not False, 'Unknown settings format %s' % ext
@@ -457,7 +490,11 @@ class Config(object):
             settings_file.write(encoder(self._data[TYPE_PERSISTED]))
 
     def load_conf_file_settings(self):
-        path = self.get_conf_filename()
+        if conf_file:
+            path = conf_file
+        else:
+            path = self.get_conf_filename()
+
         ext = os.path.splitext(path)[1]
         decoder = settings_decoders.get(ext, False)
         assert decoder is not False, 'Unknown settings format %s' % ext
diff --git a/lbrynet/daemon/DaemonControl.py b/lbrynet/daemon/DaemonControl.py
index db60ce01c..2638bca4b 100644
--- a/lbrynet/daemon/DaemonControl.py
+++ b/lbrynet/daemon/DaemonControl.py
@@ -20,9 +20,18 @@ def test_internet_connection():
 
 def start():
     """The primary entry point for launching the daemon."""
-    conf.initialize_settings()
+
+    # postpone loading the config file to after the CLI arguments
+    # have been parsed, as they may contain an alternate config file location
+    conf.initialize_settings(load_conf_file=False)
 
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Launch lbrynet-daemon")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--conf",
+        help="specify an alternative configuration file",
+        type=str,
+        default=None
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--wallet",
         help="lbryum or ptc for testing, default lbryum",
@@ -49,6 +58,8 @@ def start():
     args = parser.parse_args()
     update_settings_from_args(args)
 
+    conf.settings.load_conf_file_settings()
+
     if args.version:
         version = system_info.get_platform(get_ip=False)
         version['installation_id'] = conf.settings.installation_id
@@ -83,6 +94,8 @@ def update_settings_from_args(args):
         'wallet': args.wallet,
     }, data_types=(conf.TYPE_CLI,))
 
+    conf.conf_file = args.conf
+
 
 @defer.inlineCallbacks
 def start_server_and_listen(use_auth, analytics_manager):