diff --git a/shade/cmd/inventory.py b/shade/cmd/inventory.py
index c4d396f46..4f9538fff 100755
--- a/shade/cmd/inventory.py
+++ b/shade/cmd/inventory.py
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ def parse_args():
     group.add_argument('--list', action='store_true',
                        help='List active servers')
     group.add_argument('--host', help='List details about the specific host')
+    parser.add_argument('--private', action='store_true', default=False,
+                        help='Use private IPs for interface_ip')
     parser.add_argument('--yaml', action='store_true', default=False,
                         help='Output data in nicely readable yaml')
     parser.add_argument('--debug', action='store_true', default=False,
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ def main():
     try:
         shade.simple_logging(debug=args.debug)
         inventory = shade.inventory.OpenStackInventory(
-            refresh=args.refresh)
+            refresh=args.refresh, private=args.private)
         if args.list:
             output = inventory.list_hosts()
         elif args.host:
diff --git a/shade/inventory.py b/shade/inventory.py
index d66808a84..2c15d7fc5 100644
--- a/shade/inventory.py
+++ b/shade/inventory.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from shade import _utils
 class OpenStackInventory(object):
 
     def __init__(
-            self, config_files=[], refresh=False):
+            self, config_files=[], refresh=False, private=False):
         config = os_client_config.config.OpenStackConfig(
             config_files=os_client_config.config.CONFIG_FILES + config_files)
 
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ class OpenStackInventory(object):
                 **f.config)
             for f in config.get_all_clouds()
             ]
+        if private:
+            for cloud in self.clouds:
+                cloud.private = True
 
         # Handle manual invalidation of entire persistent cache
         if refresh: