diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index d6869b52..7eb62be8 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ Usage::
     usage: bandit [-h] [-r] [-a {file,vuln}] [-n CONTEXT_LINES] [-c CONFIG_FILE]
                   [-p PROFILE] [-l] [-i] [-f {txt,json,csv,xml}]
                   [-o OUTPUT_FILE] [-v] [-d] [--ignore-nosec]
+                  [--exclude EXCLUDED_PATHS]
                   targets [targets ...]
 
     Bandit - a Python source code analyzer.
@@ -99,6 +100,10 @@ Usage::
                             files
       -d, --debug           turn on debug mode
       --ignore-nosec        do not skip lines with # nosec comments
+      -x, --exclude EXCLUDED_PATHS
+                            Comma separated list of paths to exclude from scan.
+                            Note that these are in addition to the excluded paths
+                            provided in the config file.
 
 
 Configuration
diff --git a/bandit/bandit.py b/bandit/bandit.py
index a51cabe1..88e84f9f 100644
--- a/bandit/bandit.py
+++ b/bandit/bandit.py
@@ -175,6 +175,12 @@ def main():
         '--ignore-nosec', dest='ignore_nosec', action='store_true',
         help='do not skip lines with # nosec comments'
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '-x', '--exclude', dest='excluded_paths', action='store',
+        default='', help='Comma separated list of paths to exclude from scan. '
+                         'Note that these are in addition to the excluded '
+                         'paths provided in the config file.'
+    )
     parser.set_defaults(debug=False)
     parser.set_defaults(verbose=False)
     parser.set_defaults(ignore_nosec=False)
@@ -231,7 +237,7 @@ def main():
         sys.exit(2)
 
     # initiate file discovery step within Bandit Manager
-    b_mgr.discover_files(args.targets, args.recursive)
+    b_mgr.discover_files(args.targets, args.recursive, args.excluded_paths)
 
     # initiate execution of tests within Bandit Manager
     b_mgr.run_tests()
diff --git a/bandit/core/manager.py b/bandit/core/manager.py
index 782758ff..5476415d 100644
--- a/bandit/core/manager.py
+++ b/bandit/core/manager.py
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class BanditManager():
         except IOError:
             print("Unable to write to file: %s" % output_filename)
 
-    def discover_files(self, targets, recursive=False):
+    def discover_files(self, targets, recursive=False, excluded_paths=''):
         '''Add tests directly and from a directory to the test set
 
         :param targets: The command line list of files and directories
@@ -146,6 +146,11 @@ class BanditManager():
         excluded_path_strings = self.b_conf.get_option('exclude_dirs') or []
         included_globs = self.b_conf.get_option('include') or ['*.py']
 
+        # if there are command line provided exclusions add them to the list
+        if excluded_paths:
+            for path in excluded_paths.split(','):
+                excluded_path_strings.append(path)
+
         # build list of files we will analyze
         for fname in targets:
             # if this is a directory and recursive is set, find all files
diff --git a/tests/unit/core/test_manager.py b/tests/unit/core/test_manager.py
index 5cb54914..77ac3888 100644
--- a/tests/unit/core/test_manager.py
+++ b/tests/unit/core/test_manager.py
@@ -215,6 +215,14 @@ class ManagerTests(testtools.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(self.manager.files_list, [])
             self.assertEqual(self.manager.excluded_files, ['thing'])
 
+    @mock.patch('os.path.isdir')
+    def test_discover_files_exclude_cmdline(self, isdir):
+        isdir.return_value = False
+        with mock.patch.object(manager, '_is_file_included') as m:
+            self.manager.discover_files(['a', 'b', 'c'], True,
+                                        excluded_paths='a,b')
+            m.assert_called_with('c', ['*.py'], ['a', 'b'], enforce_glob=False)
+
     @mock.patch('os.path.isdir')
     def test_discover_files_include(self, isdir):
         isdir.return_value = False