diff --git a/bin/ansible b/bin/ansible
index 1e53aba064b..2117abd1d07 100755
--- a/bin/ansible
+++ b/bin/ansible
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class Cli(object):
     def parse(self):
         ''' create an options parser for bin/ansible '''
 
-        parser = utils.base_parser(constants=C, runas_opts=True, async_opts=True,
+        parser = utils.base_parser(constants=C, runas_opts=True, subset_opts=True, async_opts=True,
             output_opts=True, connect_opts=True, usage='%prog <host-pattern> [options]')
         parser.add_option('-a', '--args', dest='module_args',
             help="module arguments", default=C.DEFAULT_MODULE_ARGS)
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ class Cli(object):
             pattern=pattern,
             callbacks=self.callbacks, sudo=options.sudo,
             sudo_pass=sudopass,sudo_user=options.sudo_user,
-            transport=options.connection
+            transport=options.connection, subset=options.subset
         )
 
         if options.seconds:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
index 5462b94628c..e3379644b04 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ class Runner(object):
         sudo_user=C.DEFAULT_SUDO_USER,      # ex: 'root'
         module_vars=None,                   # a playbooks internals thing
         is_playbook=False,                  # running from playbook or not?
-        inventory=None                      # reference to Inventory object
+        inventory=None,                     # reference to Inventory object
+        subset=None                         # subset pattern
         ):
 
         # storage & defaults
@@ -133,6 +134,7 @@ class Runner(object):
         self.generated_jid    = str(random.randint(0, 999999999999))
         self.transport        = transport
         self.inventory        = utils.default(inventory, lambda: ansible.inventory.Inventory(host_list))
+
         self.module_vars      = utils.default(module_vars, lambda: {})
         self.sudo_user        = sudo_user
         self.connector        = connection.Connection(self)
@@ -153,6 +155,10 @@ class Runner(object):
         self.is_playbook      = is_playbook
 
         # misc housekeeping
+        if subset and self.inventory._subset is None:
+            # don't override subset when passed from playbook
+            self.inventory.subset(subset)
+
         if self.transport == 'ssh' and remote_pass:
             raise errors.AnsibleError("SSH transport does not support passwords, only keys or agents")
         if self.transport == 'local':