diff --git a/git_cl.py b/git_cl.py
index 7d11600517..406db6464c 100755
--- a/git_cl.py
+++ b/git_cl.py
@@ -5500,6 +5500,7 @@ def CMDland(parser, args):
 def CMDpatch(parser, args):
     """Applies (cherry-picks) a Gerrit changelist locally."""
     parser.add_option('-b',
+                      '--branch',
                       dest='newbranch',
                       help='create a new branch off trunk for the patch')
     parser.add_option('-f',