diff --git a/ezsync b/ezsync
index 867cdb6..ed4eeca 100755
--- a/ezsync
+++ b/ezsync
@@ -60,6 +60,14 @@ until [[ -z "${1}" ]]; do
 		-t|--notrigger)
 			EZOPT_NOTRIGGER=true
 			;;
+		-T|--tarballformat)
+			shift
+			if [ -z ${1} ]; then
+				die "--tarballformat requires an additional argument!"
+			else
+				TARBALLFORMAT="${1}"
+			fi
+			;;
 		*)
 			die "Unrecognized option ${1}"
 			;;
diff --git a/libraries/common b/libraries/common
index 4126ae4..0b0869e 100644
--- a/libraries/common
+++ b/libraries/common
@@ -425,6 +425,7 @@ function showEzsyncUsage() {
 	echo -e "  -P\t--purgeonly\tclears temporary folder and exits"
 	echo -e "  -s\t--syscheck\tperforms prerequisites check only"
 	echo -e "  -t\t--notrigger\tdisables all build triggers and modules"
+	echo -e "  -T\t--tarballformat\toverrides default compression algorithm"
 	echo -e "\nEXAMPLES:"
 	echo -e "   ezsync -c -n mainline"
 	echo -e "   ezsync -n mainline -n my_repo1"