diff --git a/qemu-options.hx b/qemu-options.hx
index 792219175a..b65fd74f32 100644
--- a/qemu-options.hx
+++ b/qemu-options.hx
@@ -1915,3 +1915,8 @@ DEF("semihosting", 0, QEMU_OPTION_semihosting,
 DEF("old-param", 0, QEMU_OPTION_old_param,
     "-old-param      old param mode\n")
 #endif
+DEF("readconfig", HAS_ARG, QEMU_OPTION_readconfig,
+    "-readconfig <file>\n")
+DEF("writeconfig", HAS_ARG, QEMU_OPTION_writeconfig,
+    "-writeconfig <file>\n"
+    "                read/write config file")
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 402e78d987..bf91ee15d4 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -5364,6 +5364,36 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
                 xen_mode = XEN_ATTACH;
                 break;
 #endif
+            case QEMU_OPTION_readconfig:
+                {
+                    FILE *fp;
+                    fp = fopen(optarg, "r");
+                    if (fp == NULL) {
+                        fprintf(stderr, "open %s: %s\n", optarg, strerror(errno));
+                        exit(1);
+                    }
+                    if (qemu_config_parse(fp) != 0) {
+                        exit(1);
+                    }
+                    fclose(fp);
+                    break;
+                }
+            case QEMU_OPTION_writeconfig:
+                {
+                    FILE *fp;
+                    if (strcmp(optarg, "-") == 0) {
+                        fp = stdout;
+                    } else {
+                        fp = fopen(optarg, "w");
+                        if (fp == NULL) {
+                            fprintf(stderr, "open %s: %s\n", optarg, strerror(errno));
+                            exit(1);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    qemu_config_write(fp);
+                    fclose(fp);
+                    break;
+                }
             }
         }
     }