diff --git a/subunit2sql/db/api.py b/subunit2sql/db/api.py
index 15f272c..3bc913b 100644
--- a/subunit2sql/db/api.py
+++ b/subunit2sql/db/api.py
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ def update_test(values, test_id, session=None):
 
 
 def create_run(skips=0, fails=0, passes=0, run_time=0, artifacts=None,
-               session=None):
+               id=None, session=None):
     """Create a new run record in the database
 
     :param int skips: total number of skiped tests defaults to 0
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ def create_run(skips=0, fails=0, passes=0, run_time=0, artifacts=None,
     :param float run_time: total run timed defaults to 0
     :param str artifacts: A link to any artifacts from the test run defaults to
                           None
+    :param str id: the run id for the new run, needs to be a unique value
     :param session: optional session object if one isn't provided a new session
                     will be acquired for the duration of this operation
 
@@ -121,6 +122,8 @@ def create_run(skips=0, fails=0, passes=0, run_time=0, artifacts=None,
     :rtype: subunit2sql.models.Run
     """
     run = models.Run()
+    if id:
+        run.id = id
     run.skips = skips
     run.fails = fails
     run.passes = passes
diff --git a/subunit2sql/shell.py b/subunit2sql/shell.py
index 77ddb6f..8a7510e 100644
--- a/subunit2sql/shell.py
+++ b/subunit2sql/shell.py
@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@ SHELL_OPTS = [
     cfg.DictOpt('run_meta', short='r', default=None,
                 help='Dict of metadata about the run(s)'),
     cfg.StrOpt('artifacts', short='a', default=None,
-               help='Location of run artifacts')
+               help='Location of run artifacts'),
+    cfg.StrOpt('run_id', short='i', default=None,
+               help='Run id to use for the specified subunit stream, can only'
+                    ' be used if a single stream is provided')
 ]
 
 _version_ = version.VersionInfo('subunit2sql').version_string()
@@ -106,7 +109,7 @@ def process_results(results):
     totals = get_run_totals(results)
     db_run = api.create_run(totals['skips'], totals['fails'],
                             totals['success'], run_time, CONF.artifacts,
-                            session=session)
+                            id=CONF.run_id, session=session)
     if CONF.run_meta:
         api.add_run_metadata(CONF.run_meta, db_run.id, session)
     for test in results:
@@ -146,6 +149,9 @@ def main():
     cli_opts()
     parse_args(sys.argv)
     if CONF.subunit_files:
+        if len(CONF.subunit_files) > 1 and CONF.run_id:
+            print("You can not specify a run id for adding more than 1 stream")
+            return 3
         streams = [subunit.ReadSubunit(open(s, 'r')) for s in
                    CONF.subunit_files]
     else: