diff --git a/libs/base/System.idr b/libs/base/System.idr
index 55188d88c..cb8711069 100644
--- a/libs/base/System.idr
+++ b/libs/base/System.idr
@@ -31,11 +31,13 @@ usleep sec = primIO (prim__usleep sec)
 
 -- Get the number of arguments
 %foreign "scheme:blodwen-arg-count"
+         support "idris2_getArgCount"
          "node:lambda:() => process.argv.length"
 prim__getArgCount : PrimIO Int
 
 -- Get argument number `n`
 %foreign "scheme:blodwen-arg"
+         support "idris2_getArg"
          "node:lambda:n => process.argv[n]"
 prim__getArg : Int -> PrimIO String
 
diff --git a/src/Compiler/RefC/RefC.idr b/src/Compiler/RefC/RefC.idr
index 67e79f447..9fa961fc3 100644
--- a/src/Compiler/RefC/RefC.idr
+++ b/src/Compiler/RefC/RefC.idr
@@ -928,12 +928,18 @@ header = do
     fns <- get FunctionDefinitions
     update OutfileText (appendL (initLines ++ headerLines ++ ["\n// function definitions"] ++ fns))
 
-footer : {auto il : Ref IndentLevel Nat} -> {auto f : Ref OutfileText Output} -> Core ()
+footer : {auto il : Ref IndentLevel Nat}
+      -> {auto f : Ref OutfileText Output}
+      -> {auto h : Ref HeaderFiles (SortedSet String)}
+      -> Core ()
 footer = do
     emit EmptyFC ""
     emit EmptyFC " // main function"
-    emit EmptyFC "int main()"
+    emit EmptyFC "int main(int argc, char *argv[])"
     emit EmptyFC "{"
+    if contains "idris_support.h" !(get HeaderFiles)
+       then emit EmptyFC "   idris2_setArgs(argc, argv);"
+       else pure ()
     emit EmptyFC "   Value *mainExprVal = __mainExpression_0();"
     emit EmptyFC "   trampoline(mainExprVal);"
     emit EmptyFC "   return 0; // bye bye"
diff --git a/support/c/idris_support.c b/support/c/idris_support.c
index 73f079f89..592d8e659 100644
--- a/support/c/idris_support.c
+++ b/support/c/idris_support.c
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
+int _argc;
+char **_argv;
+
 #ifdef _WIN32
 extern char **_environ;
 #include "windows/win_utils.h"
@@ -80,6 +83,19 @@ int idris2_time() {
     return time(NULL); // RTS needs to have 32 bit integers at least
 }
 
+void idris2_setArgs(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+    _argc = argc;
+    _argv = argv;
+}
+
+int idris2_getArgCount() {
+    return _argc;
+}
+
+char* idris2_getArg(int n) {
+    return _argv[n];
+}
+
 char* idris2_getEnvPair(int i) {
     return *(environ + i);
 }
diff --git a/support/c/idris_support.h b/support/c/idris_support.h
index 3947723fb..6f688d235 100644
--- a/support/c/idris_support.h
+++ b/support/c/idris_support.h
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ void idris2_sleep(int sec);
 void idris2_usleep(int usec);
 int idris2_time();
 
+int idris2_getArgCount();
+void idris2_setArgs(int argc, char *argv[]);
+char* idris2_getArg(int n);
 char* idris2_getEnvPair(int i);
 
 long idris2_getNProcessors();
diff --git a/tests/Main.idr b/tests/Main.idr
index 6ab6f98f1..19f86ad54 100644
--- a/tests/Main.idr
+++ b/tests/Main.idr
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ refcTests : TestPool
 refcTests = MkTestPool "Reference counting C backend" [C]
     [ "refc001" , "refc002"
     , "strings", "doubles"
-    , "buffer", "clock"
+    , "buffer", "clock", "args"
     ]
 
 racketTests : TestPool
diff --git a/tests/refc/args/TestArgs.idr b/tests/refc/args/TestArgs.idr
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e9de8ede6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/refc/args/TestArgs.idr
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+module TestArgs
+
+import System
+
+main : IO ()
+main = getArgs >>= (putStrLn . show)
diff --git a/tests/refc/args/expected b/tests/refc/args/expected
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ab327bf51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/refc/args/expected
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+["./build/exec/refc_args", "a", "b"]
+["./build/exec/refc_args", "c"]
diff --git a/tests/refc/args/run b/tests/refc/args/run
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cac0eb899
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/refc/args/run
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+$1 --no-banner --no-color --console-width 0 --cg refc -o refc_args TestArgs.idr > /dev/null
+./build/exec/refc_args a b
+./build/exec/refc_args c
+
+rm -rf build