diff --git a/fetcher.py b/fetcher.py
index 9c6216b..638aa7e 100755
--- a/fetcher.py
+++ b/fetcher.py
@@ -158,6 +158,7 @@ import RNS
 # global server link
 server_link = None
 file = None
+# outdir = None
 
 def link_established(link):
     global server_link
@@ -170,17 +171,19 @@ def link_closed():
 def file_received(request_receipt):
     global file
     file = True
+
+    global outdir
     try:
         if type(request_receipt.response) == io.BufferedReader:
             if request_receipt.metadata != None:
                 file_name   = os.path.basename(request_receipt.metadata["name"].decode("utf-8"))
                 file_handle = request_receipt.response
-                file_destination = "."+"/"+file_name
+                file_destination = outdir+"/"+file_name
 
                 counter = 0
                 while os.path.isfile(file_destination):
                     counter += 1
-                    file_destination = "."+"/"+file_name+"."+str(counter)
+                    file_destination = outdir+"/"+file_name+"."+str(counter)
 
                 shutil.move(file_handle.name, file_destination)
 
@@ -193,7 +196,7 @@ def file_received(request_receipt):
             counter = 0
             while os.path.isfile(file_destination):
                 counter += 1
-                file_destination = "."+"/"+file_destination_name+"."+str(counter)
+                file_destination = outdir+"/"+file_destination_name+"."+str(counter)
 
             fh = open(file_destination, "wb")
             fh.write(file_data)
@@ -224,6 +227,7 @@ def response_progressed(req_receipt):
 
 parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="request a resource from a target node")
 parser.add_argument("URL", help="the LXMF URL of the resource to be fetched")
+parser.add_argument("OUTDIR", help="the output directory to place the file")
 
 args = parser.parse_args()
 arglist = args.URL.split(":")
@@ -232,6 +236,8 @@ resource_path = arglist[1]
 print(dest_hash)
 print(resource_path)
 
+outdir = args.OUTDIR
+
 
 r = RNS.Reticulum()
 RNS.loglevel = RNS.LOG_DEBUG