diff --git a/lib/compass/configuration/data.rb b/lib/compass/configuration/data.rb
index 5c9354c1..8ae6afa2 100644
--- a/lib/compass/configuration/data.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/configuration/data.rb
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ module Compass
       extend  Compass::Configuration::Paths
 
       inherited_accessor *ATTRIBUTES
-      inherited_accessor :required_libraries #XXX we should make this array add up cumulatively.
+      inherited_accessor :required_libraries, :loaded_frameworks, :framework_path #XXX we should make these arrays add up cumulatively.
 
       strip_trailing_separator *ATTRIBUTES.select{|a| a.to_s =~ /dir|path/}
 
@@ -95,6 +95,16 @@ module Compass
         super
       end
 
+      def load(framework_dir)
+        (self.loaded_frameworks ||= []) << framework_dir
+        Compass::Frameworks.register_directory framework_dir
+      end
+
+      def discover(frameworks_dir)
+        (self.framework_path ||= []) << frameworks_dir
+        Compass::Frameworks.discover frameworks_dir
+      end
+
       def relative_assets?
         # the http_images_path is deprecated, but here for backwards compatibility.
         relative_assets || http_images_path == :relative
diff --git a/lib/compass/configuration/serialization.rb b/lib/compass/configuration/serialization.rb
index 902e7556..1301c379 100644
--- a/lib/compass/configuration/serialization.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/configuration/serialization.rb
@@ -56,6 +56,12 @@ module Compass
           (required_libraries || []).each do |lib|
             contents << %Q{require '#{lib}'\n}
           end
+          (loaded_frameworks || []).each do |lib|
+            contents << %Q{load '#{lib}'\n}
+          end
+          (framework_path || []).each do |lib|
+            contents << %Q{discover '#{lib}'\n}
+          end
           contents << "# Require any additional compass plugins here.\n"
           contents << "\n" if (required_libraries || []).any?
           ATTRIBUTES.each do |prop|
diff --git a/lib/compass/exec/global_options_parser.rb b/lib/compass/exec/global_options_parser.rb
index c3ad7f1a..0f52225b 100644
--- a/lib/compass/exec/global_options_parser.rb
+++ b/lib/compass/exec/global_options_parser.rb
@@ -7,9 +7,24 @@ module Compass::Exec::GlobalOptionsParser
     opts.on('-r LIBRARY', '--require LIBRARY',
             "Require the given ruby LIBRARY before running commands.",
             "  This is used to access compass plugins without having a",
-            "  project configuration file.") do |library|
-      ::Compass.configuration.require library
-            end
+            "  project configuration file."
+      ) do |library|
+        ::Compass.configuration.require library
+      end
+
+    opts.on('-l FRAMEWORK_DIR', '--load FRAMEWORK_DIR',
+            "Load the framework or extensions found in the FRAMEWORK directory."
+      ) do |framework_dir|
+        require 'pathname'
+        ::Compass.configuration.load Pathname.new(framework_dir).realpath
+      end
+
+    opts.on('-L FRAMEWORKS_DIR', '--load-all FRAMEWORKS_DIR',
+            "Load all the frameworks or extensions found in the FRAMEWORKS_DIR directory."
+      ) do |frameworks_dir|
+        require 'pathname'
+        ::Compass.configuration.discover Pathname.new(frameworks_dir).realpath
+      end
 
     opts.on('-q', '--quiet', :NONE, 'Quiet mode.') do
       self.options[:quiet] = true