diff --git a/docs/examples/config.yaml b/docs/examples/config.yaml
index 383d892..c71b8d2 100644
--- a/docs/examples/config.yaml
+++ b/docs/examples/config.yaml
@@ -11,9 +11,11 @@ reddit:
     - read
     - vote
     - subscribe
+    # - save   # add this scope to use "Save post" in the action menu
   redirect_uri: "http://127.0.0.1:65010/reddix/callback"
 ui:
   theme: default
+  # initial_subreddit: apple   # optional: open with this subreddit selected (same as -r apple)
 media:
   cache_dir: null
   max_size_bytes: 524288000
diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index ea01871..7a56c7a 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -12,9 +12,26 @@ use crate::storage;
 use crate::theme;
 use crate::ui;
 
-pub fn run() -> Result<()> {
-    let cfg = config::load(config::LoadOptions::default()).context("load config")?;
-    let config_path = config::default_path();
+/// Options for the main run entry point (e.g. from CLI).
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct RunOptions {
+    /// If set, open with this subreddit selected (e.g. "apple" or "r/apple").
+    pub initial_subreddit: Option<String>,
+    /// If set, load config from this path instead of the default.
+    pub config_file: Option<std::path::PathBuf>,
+}
+
+pub fn run(options: Option<RunOptions>) -> Result<()> {
+    let run_opts = options.unwrap_or_default();
+    let load_opts = config::LoadOptions {
+        config_file: run_opts.config_file.clone(),
+        env_prefix: None,
+    };
+    let cfg = config::load(load_opts).context("load config")?;
+    let config_path = run_opts
+        .config_file
+        .clone()
+        .or_else(config::default_path);
     let display_path = friendly_path(config_path.as_ref());
 
     ui::configure_terminal_cell_metrics_override(cfg.ui.cell_width, cfg.ui.cell_height);
@@ -157,6 +174,9 @@ pub fn run() -> Result<()> {
         session_manager: session_manager.clone(),
         fetch_subreddits_on_start,
         theme: theme::palette_for(theme),
+        initial_subreddit: run_opts
+            .initial_subreddit
+            .or_else(|| cfg.ui.initial_subreddit.clone()),
     };
 
     let mut model = ui::Model::new(options);
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 8c46a0c..3bac83f 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ pub struct UIConfig {
     pub cell_width: Option<f64>,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub cell_height: Option<f64>,
+    /// If set, open with this subreddit selected (same as -r/--subreddit).
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub initial_subreddit: Option<String>,
 }
 
 impl Default for UIConfig {
@@ -82,6 +85,7 @@ impl Default for UIConfig {
             theme: default_theme(),
             cell_width: None,
             cell_height: None,
+            initial_subreddit: None,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -222,6 +226,9 @@ fn merge_config(mut base: Config, other: Config) -> Config {
     if other.ui.cell_height.is_some() {
         base.ui.cell_height = other.ui.cell_height;
     }
+    if other.ui.initial_subreddit.is_some() {
+        base.ui.initial_subreddit = other.ui.initial_subreddit;
+    }
 
     if other.media.cache_dir.is_some() {
         base.media.cache_dir = other.media.cache_dir;
@@ -293,6 +300,7 @@ fn apply_env_value(cfg: &mut Config, key: &str, value: String) {
                 cfg.ui.cell_height = Some(parsed);
             }
         }
+        "ui.initial_subreddit" => cfg.ui.initial_subreddit = Some(value),
         "media.cache_dir" => cfg.media.cache_dir = Some(PathBuf::from(value)),
         "media.max_size_bytes" => {
             if let Ok(parsed) = value.parse::<i64>() {
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index b4de8e5..cf5d481 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@ pub mod video;
 
 pub const VERSION: &str = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
 
-pub use app::run;
+pub use app::{run, RunOptions};
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index a4500b8..9c04793 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,39 +1,63 @@
 fn main() {
-    if handle_cli_flags() {
-        return;
-    }
-
-    if let Err(err) = reddix::run() {
-        eprintln!("error: {err:?}");
-        std::process::exit(1);
-    }
-}
-
-fn handle_cli_flags() -> bool {
-    let mut saw_flag = false;
-    for arg in std::env::args().skip(1) {
-        match arg.as_str() {
+    let args: Vec<String> = std::env::args().collect();
+    let mut initial_subreddit: Option<String> = None;
+    let mut config_file: Option<std::path::PathBuf> = None;
+    let mut i = 1;
+    while i < args.len() {
+        match args[i].as_str() {
             "--version" | "-V" => {
                 println!("Reddix {}", reddix::VERSION);
-                saw_flag = true;
+                return;
             }
             "--help" | "-h" => {
                 println!(
-                    "Reddix — Reddit, refined for the terminal.\n\n  --version, -V        Show version and exit\n  --help,    -h        Show this help message\n  --check-updates      Check for updates and exit"
+                    "Reddix — Reddit, refined for the terminal.\n\n  --version, -V        Show version and exit\n  --help,    -h        Show this help message\n  -r, --subreddit NAME Open with this subreddit selected (e.g. -r apple)\n  --config PATH        Use config file at PATH\n  --check-updates      Check for updates and exit"
                 );
-                saw_flag = true;
+                return;
+            }
+            "--config" => {
+                i += 1;
+                if i < args.len() && !args[i].starts_with('-') {
+                    config_file = Some(std::path::PathBuf::from(&args[i]));
+                }
+                i += 1;
+                continue;
+            }
+            "-r" | "--subreddit" => {
+                i += 1;
+                if i < args.len() && !args[i].starts_with('-') {
+                    initial_subreddit = Some(args[i].clone());
+                }
+                i += 1;
+                continue;
             }
             "--check-updates" => {
-                saw_flag = true;
                 if let Err(err) = check_updates_once() {
                     eprintln!("Update check failed: {err:?}");
                     std::process::exit(1);
                 }
+                return;
+            }
+            _ => {
+                i += 1;
             }
-            _ => {}
         }
     }
-    saw_flag
+
+    let run_opts = if initial_subreddit.is_some() || config_file.is_some() {
+        Some(reddix::RunOptions {
+            initial_subreddit,
+            config_file,
+            ..Default::default()
+        })
+    } else {
+        None
+    };
+
+    if let Err(err) = reddix::run(run_opts) {
+        eprintln!("error: {err:?}");
+        std::process::exit(1);
+    }
 }
 
 fn check_updates_once() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
diff --git a/src/ui.rs b/src/ui.rs
index d76f79a..ee8ba5b 100644
--- a/src/ui.rs
+++ b/src/ui.rs
@@ -3517,6 +3517,8 @@ pub struct Options {
     pub session_manager: Option<Arc<session::Manager>>,
     pub fetch_subreddits_on_start: bool,
     pub theme: crate::theme::Palette,
+    /// If set, open with this subreddit selected (e.g. "apple" or "r/apple").
+    pub initial_subreddit: Option<String>,
 }
 
 pub struct Model {
@@ -4577,6 +4579,21 @@ impl Model {
             .iter()
             .position(|name| name.eq_ignore_ascii_case("r/frontpage"))
             .unwrap_or(0);
+        if let Some(ref name) = opts.initial_subreddit {
+            let normalized = normalize_subreddit_name(name);
+            if normalized != "r/frontpage" {
+                if let Some(idx) = model
+                    .subreddits
+                    .iter()
+                    .position(|s| s.eq_ignore_ascii_case(&normalized))
+                {
+                    model.selected_sub = idx;
+                } else {
+                    model.subreddits.push(normalized);
+                    model.selected_sub = model.subreddits.len().saturating_sub(1);
+                }
+            }
+        }
         model.selected_post = 0;
         model.selected_comment = 0;
         model.post_offset.set(0);