diff --git a/subcmds/init.py b/subcmds/init.py
index 0586721..53c3a01 100644
--- a/subcmds/init.py
+++ b/subcmds/init.py
@@ -62,6 +62,10 @@
     g.add_option('-b', '--manifest-branch',
                  dest='manifest_branch',
                  help='manifest branch or revision', metavar='REVISION')
+    g.add_option('-o', '--origin',
+                 dest='manifest_origin',
+                 help="use REMOTE instead of 'origin' to track upstream",
+                 metavar='REMOTE')
     if isinstance(self.manifest, XmlManifest) \
     or not self.manifest.manifestProject.Exists:
       g.add_option('-m', '--manifest-name',
@@ -84,30 +88,42 @@
                  dest='no_repo_verify', action='store_true',
                  help='do not verify repo source code')
 
-  def _SyncManifest(self, opt):
+  def _ApplyOptions(self, opt, is_new):
     m = self.manifest.manifestProject
-    is_new = not m.Exists
 
     if is_new:
-      if not opt.manifest_url:
-        print >>sys.stderr, 'fatal: manifest url (-u) is required.'
-        sys.exit(1)
-
-      if not opt.quiet:
-        print >>sys.stderr, 'Getting manifest ...'
-        print >>sys.stderr, '   from %s' % opt.manifest_url
-      m._InitGitDir()
+      if opt.manifest_origin:
+        m.remote.name = opt.manifest_origin
 
       if opt.manifest_branch:
         m.revisionExpr = opt.manifest_branch
       else:
         m.revisionExpr = 'refs/heads/master'
     else:
+      if opt.manifest_origin:
+        print >>sys.stderr, 'fatal: cannot change origin name'
+        sys.exit(1)
+
       if opt.manifest_branch:
         m.revisionExpr = opt.manifest_branch
       else:
         m.PreSync()
 
+  def _SyncManifest(self, opt):
+    m = self.manifest.manifestProject
+    is_new = not m.Exists
+
+    if is_new:
+      if not opt.manifest_url:
+        print >>sys.stderr, 'fatal: manifest url (-u) is required.'
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+      if not opt.quiet:
+        print >>sys.stderr, 'Getting manifest ...'
+        print >>sys.stderr, '   from %s' % opt.manifest_url
+      m._InitGitDir()
+
+    self._ApplyOptions(opt, is_new)
     if opt.manifest_url:
       r = m.GetRemote(m.remote.name)
       r.url = opt.manifest_url