diff --git a/src/surge-xt/cli/cli-main.cpp b/src/surge-xt/cli/cli-main.cpp
index bccfc09ba92..619f3c946a2 100644
--- a/src/surge-xt/cli/cli-main.cpp
+++ b/src/surge-xt/cli/cli-main.cpp
@@ -317,6 +317,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
                  "Do not assume stdin and do not poll keyboard for quit or ctrl-d. Useful for "
                  "daemon modes.");
 
+    bool mpeEnable{false};
+    app.add_flag("--mpe-enable", mpeEnable, "Enable MPE mode on this instance of Surge XT CLI");
+
     CLI11_PARSE(app, argc, argv);
 
     if (listDevices)
@@ -345,6 +348,16 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
         }
     }
 
+    if (mpeEnable)
+    {
+        LOG(BASIC, "MPE Status          : Enabled");
+        engine->proc->surge->mpeEnabled = true;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        engine->proc->surge->mpeEnabled = false; // the default
+    }
+
     auto midiDevices = juce::MidiInput::getAvailableDevices();
     std::vector<std::unique_ptr<juce::MidiInput>> midiInputs;