diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index e51fd7d8..33b38127 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 # importlib-metadata dependency can be removed when RHEL8 and other 3.6 based systems are not in support cycles
 
 install_requires = [
+    'configargparse',
     'empy',
     'importlib-metadata; python_version < "3.8"',
     'pexpect',
diff --git a/src/rocker/cli.py b/src/rocker/cli.py
index 7063d100..c880c34f 100644
--- a/src/rocker/cli.py
+++ b/src/rocker/cli.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import argparse
+import configargparse
 import os
 import sys
 
@@ -31,11 +32,14 @@
 
 def main():
 
-    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+    parser = configargparse.ArgumentParser(
+        config_file_parser_class=configargparse.TomlConfigParser(['rocker.config']),
         description='A tool for running docker with extra options',
-        formatter_class=argparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter)
+        default_config_files=['config.toml', 'config.ini'],
+        formatter_class=configargparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter)
     parser.add_argument('image')
     parser.add_argument('command', nargs='*', default='')
+    parser.add_argument('--config', is_config_file=True)
     parser.add_argument('--noexecute', action='store_true', help='Deprecated') # TODO(tfoote) add when 3.13 is minimum supported, deprecated=True 
     parser.add_argument('--nocache', action='store_true')
     parser.add_argument('--nocleanup', action='store_true', help='do not remove the docker container when stopped')