diff --git a/cmd/lncli/commands.go b/cmd/lncli/commands.go
index 038d2b72..95b3e7fa 100644
--- a/cmd/lncli/commands.go
+++ b/cmd/lncli/commands.go
@@ -422,6 +422,14 @@ var openChannelCommand = cli.Command{
 				"sat/byte that should be used when crafting " +
 				"the transaction",
 		},
+		cli.BoolFlag{
+			Name: "private",
+			Usage: "make the channel private, such that it won't " +
+				"be announced to the greater network, and " +
+				"nodes other than the two channel endpoints " +
+				"must be explicitly told about it to be able " +
+				"to route through it",
+		},
 	},
 	Action: actionDecorator(openChannel),
 }
@@ -493,6 +501,8 @@ func openChannel(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	req.Private = ctx.Bool("private")
+
 	stream, err := client.OpenChannel(ctxb, req)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err