diff --git a/electrum b/electrum
index bc205a60..9cf57dee 100755
--- a/electrum
+++ b/electrum
@@ -219,6 +219,10 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     elif len(args) == 1 and re.match('^bitcoin:', args[0]):
         url = args[0]
         cmd = 'gui'
+    elif len(args) == 1 and args[0] not in known_commands and os.path.exists(args[0]):
+        # fixme: assume this is a payment request
+        url = "bitcoin:?r=file://"+ os.path.join(os.getcwd(), args[0])
+        cmd = 'gui'
     else:
         cmd = args[0]