diff --git a/scripts/gnt-backup b/scripts/gnt-backup
index d7f6b4fa76f7e8f9340444e92919ce23468d2c82..fd7b18a0cb919664be36e75c1008fce86e97d37f 100755
--- a/scripts/gnt-backup
+++ b/scripts/gnt-backup
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def ImportInstance(opts, args):
                                 ip_check=opts.ip_check,
                                 ip=opts.ip, bridge=opts.bridge, start=False,
                                 src_node=opts.src_node, src_path=opts.src_dir,
-                                wait_for_sync=opts.wait_for_sync, mac="auto",
+                                wait_for_sync=opts.wait_for_sync, mac=opts.mac,
                                 file_storage_dir=opts.file_storage_dir,
                                 file_driver=opts.file_driver,
                                 iallocator=opts.iallocator,
@@ -166,6 +166,9 @@ import_opts = [
   make_option("-b", "--bridge", dest="bridge",
               help="Bridge to connect this instance to",
               default=None, metavar="<bridge>"),
+  make_option("--mac", dest="mac",
+              help="MAC address ('auto' [default], or specify address)",
+              default='auto', type="string", metavar="<MACADDRESS>"),
   make_option("--src-node", dest="src_node", help="Source node",
               metavar="<node>"),
   make_option("--src-dir", dest="src_dir", help="Source directory",