diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index 61c921b..3204a09 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -19,3 +19,10 @@ def load():
 	watchd_threads = parser.getint('watcherd', 'threads')
 	timeout = parser.getint('watcherd', 'timeout')
 
+	# allow overriding select items from the commandline
+	import argparse
+	aparse = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+	aparse.add_argument('--watchd_threads', help="how many proxy checker threads to spin up, 0==none, default: 10", type=int, default=watchd_threads, required=False)
+	args = aparse.parse_args()
+
+	watchd_threads = args.watchd_threads