diff --git a/src/Generate.purs b/src/Generate.purs
index 3262d2c..d4d248e 100644
--- a/src/Generate.purs
+++ b/src/Generate.purs
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ import Core (FetchResult(..), MyError(..), NixPrefetchGitResult, Package, Repo(.
 import Data.Array as Array
 import Data.Bifunctor (lmap)
 import Data.Either (Either(..))
-import Data.Maybe (Maybe(..))
+import Data.List (List)
+import Data.List as List
+import Data.Maybe (Maybe(..), maybe)
 import Data.String as String
 import Data.Traversable (traverse, traverse_)
 import Data.Validation.Semigroup (V(..), toEither)
@@ -40,12 +42,12 @@ brokenRepoSHA = SHA256 "0sjjj9z1dhilhpc8pq4154czrb79z9cm044jvn75kxcjv6v5l2m5"
 --   "sha256": "0sjjj9z1dhilhpc8pq4154czrb79z9cm044jvn75kxcjv6v5l2m5",
 -- }
 
-spagoListPackages :: Aff (Either MyError (Array Package))
-spagoListPackages = do
+spagoListPackages :: Maybe SpagoArgs -> Aff (Either MyError (Array Package))
+spagoListPackages mSpagoArgs = do
   error "getting packages.."
   output <- S.spawn
     { cmd: "spago"
-    , args: [ "ls", "deps", "--json", "--transitive" ]
+    , args: [ "ls", "deps", "--json", "--transitive" ] <> spagoArgs
     , stdin: Nothing
     }
     CP.defaultSpawnOptions
@@ -60,6 +62,7 @@ spagoListPackages = do
       error output.stderr
       pure $ Left $ SpagoRunError (show e)
   where
+    spagoArgs = maybe [] unSpagoArgs mSpagoArgs
     words :: String -> Array String
     words = String.split (String.Pattern "\n") <<< String.trim
 
@@ -236,10 +239,10 @@ chunk n xs | n < 1     = [xs]
     chunk' acc [] = acc
     chunk' acc rest = chunk' (acc <> [Array.take n rest]) (Array.drop n rest)
 
-generate :: Int -> Aff Unit
-generate maxProcs = do
+generate :: Int -> Maybe SpagoArgs -> Aff Unit
+generate maxProcs mSpagoArgs = do
   ensureSetup
-  packages <- exitOnError spagoListPackages
+  packages <- exitOnError $ spagoListPackages mSpagoArgs
   fetches <- toResult <$> concatMapM (parTraverse ensureFetchPackage) (chunk maxProcs packages)
   case fetches of
     Left errors -> do
@@ -263,3 +266,16 @@ generate maxProcs = do
         Left e -> do
           error $ show e
           exit 1
+
+-- extra args we parse out to pass to spago if needed
+newtype SpagoArgs = SpagoArgs (List String)
+
+unSpagoArgs :: SpagoArgs -> Array String
+unSpagoArgs (SpagoArgs xs) = List.toUnfoldable xs
+
+parseSpagoArgs :: List String -> Maybe SpagoArgs
+parseSpagoArgs xs = go xs
+  where
+    go (List.Cons "--" rest) = Just $ SpagoArgs rest
+    go (List.Cons _ rest) = go rest
+    go List.Nil = Nothing
diff --git a/src/Main.purs b/src/Main.purs
index c97a17d..bc21f9c 100644
--- a/src/Main.purs
+++ b/src/Main.purs
@@ -41,12 +41,14 @@ generate extraArgs = do
       log $ "Expected an integer, but got: " <> List.intercalate " " extraArgs
       log $ "Specify the maximum number of packages to fetch simultaneously."
       exit 1
-    Just n -> Generate.generate n
+    Just n -> do
+      let spagoArgs = Generate.parseSpagoArgs extraArgs
+      Generate.generate n spagoArgs
   where
     parse :: List String -> Maybe Int
     parse List.Nil = Just 0
-    parse (List.Cons arg List.Nil) = Int.fromString arg
-    parse _ = Nothing
+    parse (List.Cons "--" _) = Just 0
+    parse (List.Cons arg _) = Int.fromString arg
 
 install :: List String -> Aff Unit
 install extraArgs = do
@@ -125,9 +127,10 @@ help = """spago2nix - generate Nix derivations from packages required in a spago
   Usage: spago2nix (generate | install | build)
 
 Available commands:
-  generate [n]
+  generate [n] [--] [pass-through spago args]
     Generate a Nix expression of packages from Spago. If n is
     given, it will limit the number of packages fetched at once.
+    Pass extra flags to Spago by specifying more after `--`.
   install [passthrough args for nix-shell]
     Install dependencies from spago-packages.nix in Spago style
   build [passthrough args for nix-shell]