diff --git a/sbin/dump/dump.8 b/sbin/dump/dump.8
index 8a79a27a1f00..40b24857d718 100644
--- a/sbin/dump/dump.8
+++ b/sbin/dump/dump.8
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-.\"	$NetBSD: dump.8,v 1.71 2019/03/25 07:03:17 wiz Exp $
+.\"	$NetBSD: dump.8,v 1.72 2019/08/19 18:12:50 perseant Exp $
 .\"
 .\" Copyright (c) 1980, 1991, 1993
 .\"	 Regents of the University of California.
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 .Op Fl 0123456789aceFinStuX
 .Op Fl B Ar records
 .Op Fl b Ar blocksize
+.Op Fl D Ar dumpdates-file
 .Op Fl d Ar density
 .Op Fl f Ar file
 .Op Fl h Ar level
@@ -145,6 +146,9 @@ The number of kilobytes per dump record.
 .It Fl c
 Modify the calculation of the default density and tape size to be more
 appropriate for cartridge tapes.
+.It Fl D Ar dumpdates-file
+Use the given file as a record of dump dates instead of
+.Pa /etc/dumpdates .
 .It Fl d Ar density
 Set tape density to
 .Ar density .
diff --git a/sbin/dump/main.c b/sbin/dump/main.c
index 7df2582df14a..e7ceca56463a 100644
--- a/sbin/dump/main.c
+++ b/sbin/dump/main.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: main.c,v 1.75 2019/03/25 02:13:01 manu Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: main.c,v 1.76 2019/08/19 18:12:50 perseant Exp $	*/
 
 /*-
  * Copyright (c) 1980, 1991, 1993, 1994
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ __COPYRIGHT("@(#) Copyright (c) 1980, 1991, 1993, 1994\
 #if 0
 static char sccsid[] = "@(#)main.c	8.6 (Berkeley) 5/1/95";
 #else
-__RCSID("$NetBSD: main.c,v 1.75 2019/03/25 02:13:01 manu Exp $");
+__RCSID("$NetBSD: main.c,v 1.76 2019/08/19 18:12:50 perseant Exp $");
 #endif
 #endif /* not lint */
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	obsolete(&argc, &argv);
 	while ((ch = getopt(argc, argv,
-	    "0123456789aB:b:cd:eFf:h:ik:l:L:nr:s:StT:uU:Wwx:X")) != -1)
+	    "0123456789aB:b:cd:D:eFf:h:ik:l:L:nr:s:StT:uU:Wwx:X")) != -1)
 		switch (ch) {
 		/* dump level */
 		case '0': case '1': case '2': case '3': case '4':
@@ -164,6 +164,10 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 				ntrec = HIGHDENSITYTREC;
 			break;
 
+		case 'D':		/* specify alt. dumpdates file */
+			dumpdates = optarg;
+			break;
+
 		case 'e':		/* eject full tapes */
 			eflag = 1;
 			break;