diff --git a/coverage2sql/db/api.py b/coverage2sql/db/api.py
index 058a023..4221cd7 100644
--- a/coverage2sql/db/api.py
+++ b/coverage2sql/db/api.py
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ def create_coverage(project_name, coverage_rate=0.0, report_time=None,
     :param float coverage_rate: coverage_rate defaults to 0
     :param datetime.Datetime report_time: when the coverage was collected
                                           defaults to None
+    :param str test_type: test_type like a task name of tox e.g. py27
     :param session: optional session object if one isn't provided a new session
                     will be acquired for the duration of this operation
     :return: The coverage object stored in the DB
diff --git a/coverage2sql/shell.py b/coverage2sql/shell.py
index 9993952..bb730d1 100644
--- a/coverage2sql/shell.py
+++ b/coverage2sql/shell.py
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ SHELL_OPTS = [
                help='project name of the coverage files'),
     cfg.StrOpt('coverage_file', positional=True,
                help='A coverage file to put into the database'),
+    cfg.StrOpt('test-type', default='py27',
+               help='test_type like a task name of tox e.g. py27'),
 ]
 
 DATABASE_OPTS = [
@@ -62,7 +64,7 @@ def parse_args(argv):
 
 def process_results(project_name=".", coverage_rate=0.0):
     session = api.get_session()
-    api.create_coverage(project_name, coverage_rate)
+    api.create_coverage(project_name, coverage_rate, test_type=CONF.test_type)
     session.close()