diff --git a/include/popl.hpp b/include/popl.hpp
index 8fd668b..e473099 100644
--- a/include/popl.hpp
+++ b/include/popl.hpp
@@ -339,7 +339,8 @@ class OptionParser
     /// Parse the command line into the added Options
     /// @param argc command line argument count
     /// @param argv command line arguments
-    void parse(int argc, const char* const argv[]);
+    /// @param start_index index of starting argument
+    void parse(int argc, const char * const argv[], int start_index = 1);
 
     /// Delete all parsed options
     void reset();
@@ -993,9 +994,9 @@ inline void OptionParser::parse(const std::string& ini_filename)
     }
 }
 
-inline void OptionParser::parse(int argc, const char* const argv[])
+inline void OptionParser::parse(int argc, const char* const argv[], int start_index)
 {
-    for (int n = 1; n < argc; ++n)
+    for (int n = start_index; n < argc; ++n)
     {
         const std::string arg(argv[n]);
         if (arg == "--")
diff --git a/test/test_main.cpp b/test/test_main.cpp
index 63ae619..2364c55 100644
--- a/test/test_main.cpp
+++ b/test/test_main.cpp
@@ -54,3 +54,17 @@ TEST_CASE("config file")
     }
 }
 
+TEST_CASE("start index")
+{
+    OptionParser op("Allowed options");
+    auto help_option = op.add<Switch>("h", "help", "produce help message");
+    auto int_option = op.add<Value<int>>("i", "int", "test for int value", 42);
+    std::vector<const char*> args = {"popl", "-h", "--", "-i", "43"};
+
+    op.parse(args.size(), args.data(), 3);
+    REQUIRE(help_option->count() == 0);
+    REQUIRE(int_option->is_set());
+    REQUIRE(int_option->count() == 1);
+    REQUIRE(int_option->value() == 43);
+}
+