diff --git a/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp b/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp
index db713f58d2..a27845c315 100644
--- a/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ static int AppInitRPC(int argc, char* argv[])
         fprintf(stderr, "Error reading configuration file: %s\n", error.c_str());
         return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
-    // Check for -testnet or -regtest parameter (BaseParams() calls are only valid after this clause)
+    // Check for -chain, -testnet or -regtest parameter (BaseParams() calls are only valid after this clause)
     try {
         SelectBaseParams(gArgs.GetChainName());
     } catch (const std::exception& e) {
diff --git a/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp b/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
index 5fef4724c9..be122afd19 100644
--- a/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ static int AppInitRawTx(int argc, char* argv[])
         return EXIT_FAILURE;
     }
 
-    // Check for -testnet or -regtest parameter (Params() calls are only valid after this clause)
+    // Check for -chain, -testnet or -regtest parameter (Params() calls are only valid after this clause)
     try {
         SelectParams(gArgs.GetChainName());
     } catch (const std::exception& e) {
diff --git a/src/bitcoind.cpp b/src/bitcoind.cpp
index 06f8622426..3548e66c34 100644
--- a/src/bitcoind.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoind.cpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static bool AppInit(int argc, char* argv[])
             fprintf(stderr, "Error reading configuration file: %s\n", error.c_str());
             return false;
         }
-        // Check for -testnet or -regtest parameter (Params() calls are only valid after this clause)
+        // Check for -chain, -testnet or -regtest parameter (Params() calls are only valid after this clause)
         try {
             SelectParams(gArgs.GetChainName());
         } catch (const std::exception& e) {
diff --git a/src/chainparamsbase.cpp b/src/chainparamsbase.cpp
index 870640e77d..1e70a3739e 100644
--- a/src/chainparamsbase.cpp
+++ b/src/chainparamsbase.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ const std::string CBaseChainParams::REGTEST = "regtest";
 
 void SetupChainParamsBaseOptions()
 {
+    gArgs.AddArg("-chain=<chain>", "Use the chain <chain> (default: main). Allowed values: main, testnet, regtest", false, OptionsCategory::CHAINPARAMS);
     gArgs.AddArg("-regtest", "Enter regression test mode, which uses a special chain in which blocks can be solved instantly. "
                                    "This is intended for regression testing tools and app development.", true, OptionsCategory::CHAINPARAMS);
     gArgs.AddArg("-testnet", "Use the test chain", false, OptionsCategory::CHAINPARAMS);
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
index d3ec67e441..d1b8e881d9 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     // - QSettings() will use the new application name after this, resulting in network-specific settings
     // - Needs to be done before createOptionsModel
 
-    // Check for -testnet or -regtest parameter (Params() calls are only valid after this clause)
+    // Check for -chain, -testnet or -regtest parameter (Params() calls are only valid after this clause)
     try {
         node->selectParams(gArgs.GetChainName());
     } catch(std::exception &e) {
diff --git a/src/qt/guiutil.cpp b/src/qt/guiutil.cpp
index f8f031041c..09eae77908 100644
--- a/src/qt/guiutil.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/guiutil.cpp
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ bool SetStartOnSystemStartup(bool fAutoStart)
             // Start client minimized
             QString strArgs = "-min";
             // Set -testnet /-regtest options
-            strArgs += QString::fromStdString(strprintf(" -testnet=%d -regtest=%d", gArgs.GetBoolArg("-testnet", false), gArgs.GetBoolArg("-regtest", false)));
+            strArgs += QString::fromStdString(strprintf(" -chain=%s", gArgs.GetChainName()));
 
 #ifdef UNICODE
             boost::scoped_array<TCHAR> args(new TCHAR[strArgs.length() + 1]);
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ bool SetStartOnSystemStartup(bool fAutoStart)
             optionFile << "Name=Bitcoin\n";
         else
             optionFile << strprintf("Name=Bitcoin (%s)\n", chain);
-        optionFile << "Exec=" << pszExePath << strprintf(" -min -testnet=%d -regtest=%d\n", gArgs.GetBoolArg("-testnet", false), gArgs.GetBoolArg("-regtest", false));
+        optionFile << "Exec=" << pszExePath << strprintf(" -min -chain=%s\n", chain);
         optionFile << "Terminal=false\n";
         optionFile << "Hidden=false\n";
         optionFile.close();
diff --git a/src/util.cpp b/src/util.cpp
index a391c5e857..de65703759 100644
--- a/src/util.cpp
+++ b/src/util.cpp
@@ -961,16 +961,18 @@ bool ArgsManager::ReadConfigFiles(std::string& error, bool ignore_invalid_keys)
 
 std::string ArgsManager::GetChainName() const
 {
-    bool fRegTest = ArgsManagerHelper::GetNetBoolArg(*this, "-regtest");
-    bool fTestNet = ArgsManagerHelper::GetNetBoolArg(*this, "-testnet");
+    const bool fRegTest = ArgsManagerHelper::GetNetBoolArg(*this, "-regtest");
+    const bool fTestNet = ArgsManagerHelper::GetNetBoolArg(*this, "-testnet");
+    const bool is_chain_arg_set = IsArgSet("-chain");
 
-    if (fTestNet && fRegTest)
-        throw std::runtime_error("Invalid combination of -regtest and -testnet.");
+    if ((int)is_chain_arg_set + (int)fRegTest + (int)fTestNet > 1) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("Invalid combination of -regtest, -testnet and -chain. Can use at most one.");
+    }
     if (fRegTest)
         return CBaseChainParams::REGTEST;
     if (fTestNet)
         return CBaseChainParams::TESTNET;
-    return CBaseChainParams::MAIN;
+    return GetArg("-chain", CBaseChainParams::MAIN);
 }
 
 #ifndef WIN32