diff --git a/ifupdown2/ifupdown/argv.py b/ifupdown2/ifupdown/argv.py
index cee958a..f8fbb88 100644
--- a/ifupdown2/ifupdown/argv.py
+++ b/ifupdown2/ifupdown/argv.py
@@ -241,6 +241,10 @@ class Parse:
         ''' general parsing rules '''
 
         argparser.add_argument('-V', '--version', action=VersionAction, nargs=0)
+        argparser.add_argument(
+            '-L', '--lock', default='/run/network/.lock', dest='lockfile',
+            help='use lock file instead of default /run/network/.lock'
+        )
         argparser.add_argument(
             "--nldebug",
             dest="nldebug",
diff --git a/ifupdown2/ifupdown/main.py b/ifupdown2/ifupdown/main.py
index 903c477..8e0f13f 100644
--- a/ifupdown2/ifupdown/main.py
+++ b/ifupdown2/ifupdown/main.py
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ except (ImportError, ModuleNotFoundError):
 
 log = logging.getLogger()
 configmap_g = None
-lockfile = "/run/network/.lock"
 
 
 class Ifupdown2:
@@ -70,7 +69,7 @@ class Ifupdown2:
             self.read_config()
             self.init(stdin_buffer)
 
-            if self.op != 'query' and not utils.lockFile(lockfile):
+            if self.op != 'query' and not utils.lockFile(self.args.lockfile):
                 log.error("Another instance of this program is already running.")
                 return Status.Client.STATUS_ALREADY_RUNNING