diff --git a/comfy/cli_args.py b/comfy/cli_args.py
index 81f29f098a7d..7b39a3a5c55c 100644
--- a/comfy/cli_args.py
+++ b/comfy/cli_args.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ def __call__(self, parser, namespace, values, option_string=None):
 parser.add_argument("--output-directory", type=str, default=None, help="Set the ComfyUI output directory. Overrides --base-directory.")
 parser.add_argument("--temp-directory", type=str, default=None, help="Set the ComfyUI temp directory (default is in the ComfyUI directory). Overrides --base-directory.")
 parser.add_argument("--input-directory", type=str, default=None, help="Set the ComfyUI input directory. Overrides --base-directory.")
+parser.add_argument("--models-directory", type=str, default=None, help="Set the ComfyUI models directory. Overrides --base-directory.")
 parser.add_argument("--auto-launch", action="store_true", help="Automatically launch ComfyUI in the default browser.")
 parser.add_argument("--disable-auto-launch", action="store_true", help="Disable auto launching the browser.")
 parser.add_argument("--cuda-device", type=int, default=None, metavar="DEVICE_ID", help="Set the id of the cuda device this instance will use.")
diff --git a/folder_paths.py b/folder_paths.py
index 9a525e5a1b9c..27872f6febd3 100644
--- a/folder_paths.py
+++ b/folder_paths.py
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
     base_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
 
 models_dir = os.path.join(base_path, "models")
+if args.models_directory:
+    models_dir = args.models_directory
 folder_names_and_paths["checkpoints"] = ([os.path.join(models_dir, "checkpoints")], supported_pt_extensions)
 folder_names_and_paths["configs"] = ([os.path.join(models_dir, "configs")], [".yaml"])
 
@@ -130,6 +132,14 @@ def set_user_directory(user_dir: str) -> None:
     global user_directory
     user_directory = user_dir
 
+def set_models_directory(models_dir_path: str) -> None:
+    global models_dir
+    models_dir = models_dir_path
+
+def get_models_directory() -> str:
+    global models_dir
+    return models_dir
+
 
 #NOTE: used in http server so don't put folders that should not be accessed remotely
 def get_directory_by_type(type_name: str) -> str | None:
@@ -139,6 +149,8 @@ def get_directory_by_type(type_name: str) -> str | None:
         return get_temp_directory()
     if type_name == "input":
         return get_input_directory()
+    if type_name == "models":
+        return get_models_directory()
     return None
 
 def filter_files_content_types(files: list[str], content_types: Literal["image", "video", "audio", "model"]) -> list[str]:
@@ -179,6 +191,9 @@ def annotated_filepath(name: str) -> tuple[str, str | None]:
     elif name.endswith("[temp]"):
         base_dir = get_temp_directory()
         name = name[:-7]
+    elif name.endswith("[models]"):
+        base_dir = get_models_directory()
+        name = name[:-9]
     else:
         return name, None
 
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index ac9d24b7b82c..30c68b9ff5ce 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ def apply_custom_paths():
         logging.info(f"Setting user directory to: {user_dir}")
         folder_paths.set_user_directory(user_dir)
 
+    if args.models_directory:
+        models_dir = os.path.abspath(args.models_directory)
+        logging.info(f"Setting models directory to: {models_dir}")
+        folder_paths.set_models_directory(models_dir)
+
 
 def execute_prestartup_script():
     def execute_script(script_path):