diff --git a/gantry.py b/gantry.py
index 92b72d8..28fd6f1 100755
--- a/gantry.py
+++ b/gantry.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from actions import start_action, update_action, list_action, stop_action, kill_action
 from config.GantryConfig import Configuration
 from runtime.manager import RuntimeManager
-from util import report, fail
+from util import report, fail, connectDockerClient
 
 
 ACTIONS = {
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ def run():
   parser.add_argument('component_name', help='The name of the component to manage')
   parser.add_argument('-m', dest='monitor', action='store_true', help='If specified and the action is "start" or "update", gantry will remain running to monitor components, auto restarting them as necessary')
   parser.add_argument('--setconfig', dest='config_overrides', action='append', help='Configuration overrides for the component')
+  parser.add_argument('-H', '--host', dest='docker_url', default='unix://var/run/docker.sock', help='Set url for docker host, defaults to unix://var/run/docker.sock')
 
   args = parser.parse_args()
   component_name = args.component_name
@@ -65,6 +66,10 @@ def run():
   should_monitor = args.monitor
   config_file = args.config_file
   config_overrides = args.config_overrides
+  docker_url = args.docker_url
+
+  # Connect to docker
+  connectDockerClient(docker_url)
 
   # Load the config.
   config = loadConfig(config_file)
@@ -78,7 +83,7 @@ def run():
   component = manager.getComponent(component_name)
   if not component:
     raise Exception('Unknown component: ' + component_name)
-    
+
   # Apply the config overrides (if any).
   if config_overrides:
     component.applyConfigOverrides(config_overrides)
@@ -102,4 +107,4 @@ def cleanup_monitor(signum, frame):
   cleanup_monitor(None, None)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-  run()
\ No newline at end of file
+  run()
diff --git a/gantryd.py b/gantryd.py
index 41b8052..d2435ce 100755
--- a/gantryd.py
+++ b/gantryd.py
@@ -70,10 +70,15 @@ def start():
   parser.add_argument('-c', help='A component to watch and run', nargs='+', type=str, dest='component')
   parser.add_argument('-etcd', help='The etcd endpoint to which the client should connect. Defaults to 127.0.0.1', dest='etcd_host', nargs='?', const=ETCD_HOST)
   parser.add_argument('-etcdport', help='The client port of the etcd endpoint. Defaults to 4001.', dest='etcd_port', nargs='?', const=ETCD_PORT)
+  parser.add_argument('-H', '--host', dest='docker_url', default='unix://var/run/docker.sock', help='Set url for docker host, defaults to unix://var/run/docker.sock')
 
   # Parse the arguments.
   args = parser.parse_args()
   port = int(args.etcd_port) if args.etcd_port else ETCD_PORT
+  docker_url = args.docker_url
+
+  # Connect to docker
+  connectDockerClient(docker_url)
 
   # Initialize the gantryd client.
   dclient = GantryDClient(args.etcd_host or ETCD_HOST, args.project, port)
diff --git a/util.py b/util.py
index 566d7fe..a3de193 100644
--- a/util.py
+++ b/util.py
@@ -11,7 +11,11 @@ def enum(*sequential, **named):
 
 ReportLevels = enum(BACKGROUND=-2, EXTRA=-1, NORMAL=0, IMPORTANT=1)
 
-client = docker.Client(version='auto')
+client = None
+
+def connectDockerClient(docker_url):
+  global client
+  client = docker.Client(base_url=docker_url, version='auto')
 
 def pickUnusedPort():
   s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
@@ -47,4 +51,6 @@ def fail(reason, project=None, component=None, exception=None):
 
 def getDockerClient():
   """ Returns the docker client. """
-  return client
\ No newline at end of file
+  if client is None:
+      connectDockerClient('unix://var/run/docker.sock')
+  return client