diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index 1edb647..95bee59 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -21,3 +21,6 @@ static unsigned int lines      = 0;
  * for example: " /?\"&[]"
  */
 static const char worddelimiters[] = " ";
+
+/* -n option; preselected item starting from 0 */
+static unsigned int preselected = 0;
diff --git a/dmenu.1 b/dmenu.1
index 323f93c..6e1ee7f 100644
--- a/dmenu.1
+++ b/dmenu.1
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ dmenu \- dynamic menu
 .IR color ]
 .RB [ \-w
 .IR windowid ]
+.RB [ \-n
+.IR number ]
 .P
 .BR dmenu_run " ..."
 .SH DESCRIPTION
@@ -80,6 +82,9 @@ prints version information to stdout, then exits.
 .TP
 .BI \-w " windowid"
 embed into windowid.
+.TP
+.BI \-n " number"
+preseslected item starting from 0.
 .SH USAGE
 dmenu is completely controlled by the keyboard.  Items are selected using the
 arrow keys, page up, page down, home, and end.
diff --git a/dmenu.c b/dmenu.c
index 27b7a30..e2e79b3 100644
--- a/dmenu.c
+++ b/dmenu.c
@@ -679,6 +679,12 @@ setup(void)
 	promptw = (prompt && *prompt) ? TEXTW(prompt) - lrpad / 4 : 0;
 	inputw = mw / 3; /* input width: ~33% of monitor width */
 	match();
+	for (i = 0; i < preselected; i++) {
+		if (sel && sel->right && (sel = sel->right) == next) {
+			curr = next;
+			calcoffsets();
+		}
+	}
 
 	/* create menu window */
 	swa.override_redirect = True;
@@ -757,6 +763,8 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			colors[SchemeSel][ColFg] = argv[++i];
 		else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-w"))   /* embedding window id */
 			embed = argv[++i];
+		else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-n"))   /* preselected item */
+			preselected = atoi(argv[++i]);
 		else
 			usage();