diff --git a/abump.in b/abump.in
index 6675af56c9ec0792bebd90fb1914aecbf08e703e..03d1bd0dc1ae85772b9b02be1ebda5aa3f0511db 100755
--- a/abump.in
+++ b/abump.in
@@ -42,18 +42,23 @@ usage() {
 	echo ""
 	echo "  -h  show this help"
 	echo "  -R  run abuild with -R for recursive building"
+	echo "  -k  keep existing packages"
 	exit 0
 }
 
-abuild_opts="-r"
-while getopts "hR" opt; do
+keep=
+recursive="-r"
+while getopts "hkR" opt; do
 	case $opt in
 	h) usage;;
-	R) abuild_opts="-R";;
+	k) keep="-k";;
+	R) recursive="-R";;
 	esac
 done
 shift $(( $OPTIND - 1))
 
+abuild_opts="$recursive $keep"
+
 while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
 	( do_bump "$1" ) || exit 1
 	shift