diff --git a/ripngd/ripng_main.c b/ripngd/ripng_main.c
index e6276c1..7055391 100644
--- a/ripngd/ripng_main.c
+++ b/ripngd/ripng_main.c
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
   { "config_file", required_argument, NULL, 'f'},
   { "pid_file",    required_argument, NULL, 'i'},
   { "log_mode",    no_argument,       NULL, 'l'},
+  { "dryrun",      no_argument,       NULL, 'C'},
   { "help",        no_argument,       NULL, 'h'},
   { "vty_addr",    required_argument, NULL, 'A'},
   { "vty_port",    required_argument, NULL, 'P'},
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@
 -u, --user         User to run as\n\
 -g, --group        Group to run as\n\
 -v, --version      Print program version\n\
+-C, --dryrun       Check configuration for validity and exit\n\
 -h, --help         Display this help and exit\n\
 \n\
 Report bugs to %s\n", progname, ZEBRA_BUG_ADDRESS);
@@ -190,6 +192,7 @@
   int daemon_mode = 0;
   char *progname;
   struct thread thread;
+  int dryrun = 0;
 
   /* Set umask before anything for security */
   umask (0027);
@@ -204,7 +207,7 @@
     {
       int opt;
 
-      opt = getopt_long (argc, argv, "dlf:i:hA:P:u:g:v", longopts, 0);
+      opt = getopt_long (argc, argv, "dlf:i:hA:P:u:g:vC", longopts, 0);
     
       if (opt == EOF)
 	break;
@@ -252,6 +255,9 @@
 	  print_version (progname);
 	  exit (0);
 	  break;
+	case 'C':
+	  dryrun = 1;
+	  break;
 	case 'h':
 	  usage (progname, 0);
 	  break;
@@ -281,6 +287,10 @@
   /* Get configuration file. */
   vty_read_config (config_file, config_default);
 
+  /* Start execution only if not in dry-run mode */
+  if(dryrun)
+    return(0);
+  
   /* Change to the daemon program. */
   if (daemon_mode)
     daemon (0, 0);