diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/api.py b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/api.py
index 52ef59fb1..947671592 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/api.py
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/api.py
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ class BotUpdateApi(recipe_api.RecipeApi):
 
     flags = [
         # What do we want to check out (spec/root/rev/reverse_rev_map).
-        ['--spec', self.m.gclient.config_to_pythonish(cfg)],
+        ['--spec-path', self.m.raw_io.input(
+            self.m.gclient.config_to_pythonish(cfg))],
         ['--patch_root', root],
         ['--revision_mapping_file', self.m.json.input(reverse_rev_map)],
         ['--git-cache-dir', cfg.cache_dir],
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/basic.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/basic.json
index 9b6187d0f..49c01086c 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/basic.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/basic.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/basic_with_branch_heads.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/basic_with_branch_heads.json
index 72052deca..b97bf3ea0 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/basic_with_branch_heads.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/basic_with_branch_heads.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/buildbot.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/buildbot.json
index 9b6187d0f..49c01086c 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/buildbot.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/buildbot.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/clobber.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/clobber.json
index d3d9f6f07..927f44d70 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/clobber.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/clobber.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/deprecated_got_revision_mapping.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/deprecated_got_revision_mapping.json
index 7ea7d1036..6df635bbd 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/deprecated_got_revision_mapping.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/deprecated_got_revision_mapping.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/gerrit_no_rebase_patch_ref.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/gerrit_no_rebase_patch_ref.json
index 83e7d37be..17ef8ceb1 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/gerrit_no_rebase_patch_ref.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/gerrit_no_rebase_patch_ref.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/gerrit_no_reset.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/gerrit_no_reset.json
index 49817dfaf..cbb75b44e 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/gerrit_no_reset.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/gerrit_no_reset.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/no_shallow.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/no_shallow.json
index 3cf7e5918..9515bea2c 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/no_shallow.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/no_shallow.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/reset_root_solution_revision.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/reset_root_solution_revision.json
index 1112dc974..1f06cffeb 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/reset_root_solution_revision.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/reset_root_solution_revision.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange.json
index 08467a220..889bf20db 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange_oauth2_buildbot.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange_oauth2_buildbot.json
index 67e9ecc6d..9f7b43904 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange_oauth2_buildbot.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange_oauth2_buildbot.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange_oauth2_json.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange_oauth2_json.json
index 20e7e6c73..926d8012d 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange_oauth2_json.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange_oauth2_json.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange_oauth2_json_win.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange_oauth2_json_win.json
index eeac27300..0239139f9 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange_oauth2_json_win.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/trychange_oauth2_json_win.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]\\resources\\bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]\\resources\\bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob.json
index cddeccaf6..91e2b52e8 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_fail.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_fail.json
index ccd0507c6..a0dc5f840 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_fail.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_fail.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_fail_patch.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_fail_patch.json
index c3e4ec4f0..bb502c8c5 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_fail_patch.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_fail_patch.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_fail_patch_download.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_fail_patch_download.json
index fb8ca94f4..e97a66fb7 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_fail_patch_download.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_fail_patch_download.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_gerrit_angle.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_gerrit_angle.json
index 9c462ceef..f4125e381 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_gerrit_angle.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_gerrit_angle.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src/third_party/angle",
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src/third_party/angle",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_gerrit_angle_deprecated.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_gerrit_angle_deprecated.json
index 9c462ceef..f4125e381 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_gerrit_angle_deprecated.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_gerrit_angle_deprecated.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src/third_party/angle",
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src/third_party/angle",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_v8.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_v8.json
index 2c4facaf0..3f8b3290b 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_v8.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_v8.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src/v8",
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src/v8",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_v8_head_by_default.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_v8_head_by_default.json
index e06401d20..74124e615 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_v8_head_by_default.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/tryjob_v8_head_by_default.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src/v8",
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src/v8",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/with_tags.json b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/with_tags.json
index 9307d58cc..57892a8e8 100644
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/with_tags.json
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/examples/full.expected/with_tags.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
       "python",
       "-u",
       "RECIPE_MODULE[depot_tools::bot_update]/resources/bot_update.py",
-      "--spec",
+      "--spec-path",
       "cache_dir = '[GIT_CACHE]'\nsolutions = [{'deps_file': '.DEPS.git', 'managed': True, 'name': 'src', 'url': 'https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git'}]",
       "--patch_root",
       "src",
diff --git a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/resources/bot_update.py b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/resources/bot_update.py
index 540f34974..c3cbcd31b 100755
--- a/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/resources/bot_update.py
+++ b/recipes/recipe_modules/bot_update/resources/bot_update.py
@@ -901,6 +901,7 @@ def parse_args():
   parse.add_option('--gerrit_no_reset', action='store_true',
                    help='Bypass calling reset after applying a gerrit ref.')
   parse.add_option('--specs', help='Gcilent spec.')
+  parse.add_option('--spec-path', help='Path to a Gcilent spec file.')
   parse.add_option('--revision_mapping_file',
                    help=('Path to a json file of the form '
                          '{"property_name": "path/to/repo/"}'))
@@ -938,6 +939,12 @@ def parse_args():
 
   options, args = parse.parse_args()
 
+  if options.spec_path:
+    if options.specs:
+      parse.error('At most one of --spec-path and --specs may be specified.')
+    with open(options.spec_path, 'r') as fd:
+      options.specs = fd.read()
+
   if not options.git_cache_dir:
     parse.error('--git-cache-dir is required')