diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs
index e1b2ca6b4..6d0ec5c31 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs
@@ -523,6 +523,7 @@ directives =
   ,"newest-first"
    -- ,"base-account"
    -- ,"base-currency"
+  , "balance-style"
   ]
 
 directivevalp :: CsvRulesParser String
@@ -820,7 +821,21 @@ transactionFromCsvRecord sourcepos rules record = t
       tprecedingcomment        = T.pack precomment,
       tpostings                = postings
       }
-    toAssertion (a, b) = assertion{
+
+    defaultAssertion =
+      case mdirective "balance-style" of
+        Nothing -> assertion
+        Just "=" -> assertion
+        Just "==" -> assertion {batotal=True}
+        Just "=*" -> assertion {bainclusive=True}
+        Just "==*" -> assertion{batotal=True, bainclusive=True}
+        Just x -> error' $ unlines
+          [ "balance-style \"" ++ x ++"\" is invalid. Use =, ==, =* or ==*." 
+          , showRecord record
+          , showRules rules record
+          ]
+        
+    toAssertion (a, b) = defaultAssertion{
       baamount   = a,
       baposition = b
       }
diff --git a/tests/csv.test b/tests/csv.test
index a88c7f33f..8b18de0b9 100644
--- a/tests/csv.test
+++ b/tests/csv.test
@@ -475,6 +475,24 @@ $  ./hledger-csv
 
 >=0
 
+# 22. read CSV with balance-style directive
+<
+10/2009/09,Flubber Co,50,123
+
+RULES
+fields date, description, amount, balance
+date-format %d/%Y/%m
+balance-style ==*
+currency $
+account1 assets:myacct
+
+$  ./hledger-csv
+2009/09/10 Flubber Co
+    assets:myacct              $50 ==* $123
+    income:unknown            $-50
+
+>=0
+
 
 # . TODO: without --separator gives obscure error
 #   |