diff --git a/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/import_export.py b/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/import_export.py
index 05edbfc8..5d39304a 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/import_export.py
+++ b/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/import_export.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from mediagoblin.db.open import setup_connection_and_db_from_config
 from mediagoblin.init.config import read_mediagoblin_config
 from mediagoblin.storage.filestorage import BasicFileStorage
 from mediagoblin.init import setup_storage, setup_global_and_app_config
+from mediagoblin.gmg_commands.util import option_add_conffile
 
 import shutil
 import tarfile
@@ -39,9 +40,7 @@ def import_export_parse_setup(subparser):
     # TODO: Add default
     subparser.add_argument(
         'tar_file')
-    subparser.add_argument(
-        '-cf', '--conf_file', default='mediagoblin.ini',
-        help='Config file used to set up environment')
+    option_add_conffile(subparser)
     subparser.add_argument(
         '--mongodump_path', default='mongodump',
         help='mongodump binary')
diff --git a/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/migrate.py b/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/migrate.py
index 1a597188..0871a171 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/migrate.py
+++ b/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/migrate.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 import sys
 
+from mediagoblin.gmg_commands.util import option_add_conffile
 from mediagoblin.db import util as db_util
 from mediagoblin.db.open import setup_connection_and_db_from_config
 from mediagoblin.init.config import read_mediagoblin_config
@@ -25,9 +26,7 @@ from mediagoblin.db import migrations
 
 
 def migrate_parser_setup(subparser):
-    subparser.add_argument(
-        '-cf', '--conf_file', default='mediagoblin.ini',
-        help="Config file used to set up environment")
+    option_add_conffile(subparser)
 
 
 def _print_started_migration(migration_number, migration_func):
diff --git a/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/shell.py b/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/shell.py
index 2a380c7b..408028d0 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/shell.py
+++ b/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/shell.py
@@ -19,12 +19,11 @@ import code
 
 from mediagoblin import mg_globals
 from mediagoblin.gmg_commands import util as commands_util
+from mediagoblin.gmg_commands.util import option_add_conffile
 
 
 def shell_parser_setup(subparser):
-    subparser.add_argument(
-        '-cf', '--conf_file', default='mediagoblin.ini',
-        help="Config file used to set up environment")
+    option_add_conffile(subparser)
 
 
 SHELL_BANNER = """\
diff --git a/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/users.py b/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/users.py
index 5421907d..f6b03bf1 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/users.py
+++ b/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/users.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from mediagoblin.gmg_commands import util as commands_util
+from mediagoblin.gmg_commands.util import option_add_conffile
 from mediagoblin.auth import lib as auth_lib
 from mediagoblin import mg_globals
 
@@ -29,9 +30,7 @@ def adduser_parser_setup(subparser):
     subparser.add_argument(
         'email',
         help="Email to recieve notifications")
-    subparser.add_argument(
-        '-cf', '--conf_file', default='mediagoblin.ini',
-        help="Config file used to set up environment")
+    option_add_conffile(subparser)
 
 
 def adduser(args):
@@ -64,9 +63,7 @@ def makeadmin_parser_setup(subparser):
     subparser.add_argument(
         'username',
         help="Username to give admin level")
-    subparser.add_argument(
-        '-cf', '--conf_file', default='mediagoblin.ini',
-        help="Config file used to set up environment")
+    option_add_conffile(subparser)
 
 
 def makeadmin(args):
@@ -90,9 +87,7 @@ def changepw_parser_setup(subparser):
     subparser.add_argument(
         'password',
         help="Your NEW supersecret word to login")
-    subparser.add_argument(
-        '-cf', '--conf_file', default='mediagoblin.ini',
-        help="Config file used to set up environment")
+    option_add_conffile(subparser)
 
 
 def changepw(args):
diff --git a/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/util.py b/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/util.py
index 168a0760..02febd2c 100644
--- a/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/util.py
+++ b/mediagoblin/gmg_commands/util.py
@@ -25,3 +25,12 @@ def setup_app(args):
     mgoblin_app = app.MediaGoblinApp(args.conf_file)
 
     return mgoblin_app
+
+
+def option_add_conffile(subparser):
+    """
+    Add the -cf option to a subparser
+    """
+    subparser.add_argument(
+        '-cf', '--conf_file', default='mediagoblin.ini',
+        help="Config file used to set up environment")