diff --git a/Options.hs b/Options.hs
index 79c1da0f6..31d055749 100644
--- a/Options.hs
+++ b/Options.hs
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@ where
 import System
 import System.Console.GetOpt
 import System.Directory
-
+import Ledger.RawLedger (negativepatternchar)
 
 usagehdr    = "Usage: hledger [OPTIONS] "++commands++" [ACCTPATTERNS] [-- DESCPATTERNS]\nOptions:"
 commands    = "register|balance|print"
 defaultfile = "~/.ledger"
 fileenvvar  = "LEDGER"
+optionorder = if negativepatternchar=='-' then RequireOrder else Permute
 
 -- | Command-line options we accept.
 options :: [OptDescr Opt]
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ version = "hledger version 0.1 alpha\n"
 parseArguments :: IO ([Opt], String, [String])
 parseArguments = do
   args <- getArgs
-  case (getOpt RequireOrder options args) of
+  case (getOpt optionorder options args) of
     (opts,cmd:args,[]) -> return (opts, cmd, args)
     (opts,[],[])       -> return ([Help], [], [])
     (_,_,errs)         -> ioError (userError (concat errs ++ usage))