diff --git a/git-subsplit.sh b/git-subsplit.sh
index 5c84c3b..bf92516 100755
--- a/git-subsplit.sh
+++ b/git-subsplit.sh
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ h,help        show the help
 q             quiet
 debug         show plenty of debug output
 n,dry-run     do everything except actually send the updates
-work-dir      directory that contains the subsplit working directory
+work-dir=     directory that contains the subsplit working directory
 
  options for 'publish'
 heads=        only publish for listed heads instead of all heads
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ PATH=$PATH:$(git --exec-path)
 
 if [ "$(hash git-subtree &>/dev/null && echo OK)" = "" ]
 then
-	die "Git subplit needs git subtree; install git subtree or upgrade git to >=1.7.11"
+	die "Git subsplit needs git subtree; install git subtree or upgrade git to >=1.7.11"
 fi
 
 ANNOTATE=
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ subsplit_main()
 			-q) QUIET=1 ;;
 			--debug) VERBOSE=1 ;;
 			--heads) HEADS="$1"; shift ;;
+            --work-dir) WORK_DIR="$1"; shift ;;
 			--no-heads) NO_HEADS=1 ;;
 			--tags) TAGS="$1"; shift ;;
 			--no-tags) NO_TAGS=1 ;;