diff --git a/chatblade/cli.py b/chatblade/cli.py
index ddda7a8..be6b609 100644
--- a/chatblade/cli.py
+++ b/chatblade/cli.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def fetch_and_cache(messages, params):
     else:
         response_msg = chat.query_chat_gpt(messages, params)
     messages.append(response_msg)
-    storage.to_cache(messages)
+    storage.to_cache(messages, params)
     return messages
 
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def handle_input(query, params):
     utils.debug(title="cli input", query=query, params=params)
 
     if params.last:
-        messages = storage.messages_from_cache()
+        messages = storage.messages_from_cache(params)
         if query:  # continue conversation
             messages.append(chat.Message("user", query))
     elif params.prompt_file:
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ def handle_input(query, params):
         printer.warn("no query or option given. nothing to do...")
         exit()
 
+    if type(params.directory) == type(None):
+      del params["directory"]
+
     if params.tokens:
         token_prices = chat.get_tokens_and_costs(messages)
         printer.print_tokens(messages, token_prices, params)
diff --git a/chatblade/parser.py b/chatblade/parser.py
index f5c5e33..969a9db 100644
--- a/chatblade/parser.py
+++ b/chatblade/parser.py
@@ -94,6 +94,12 @@ def parse(args):
         help="Stream the incoming text to the terminal",
         action="store_true",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--directory",
+        metavar="d",
+        type=str,
+        help="Set the chatblade cache location (default ~/.cache/chatblade, ~/Library/Caches/chatblade on osx)",
+    )
 
     # ------ Display Options
     parser.add_argument(
diff --git a/chatblade/storage.py b/chatblade/storage.py
index 47a6ad9..58b5ea4 100644
--- a/chatblade/storage.py
+++ b/chatblade/storage.py
@@ -13,13 +13,19 @@
 APP_NAME = "chatblade"
 
 
-def get_cache_file_path():
+def get_cache_file_path(args):
     """
     if ~/.cache is availabe always use ~/.cache/chatblade as the cachefile
     otherwise fallback to the platform recommended location and create the directory
     e.g. ~/Library/Caches/chatblade on osx
     """
-    cache_path = os.path.expanduser("~/.cache")
+    if "directory" not in args:
+      cache_path = os.path.expanduser("~/.cache")
+    else:
+      cache_path = os.path.expanduser(args.directory)
+      if not os.path.exists(cache_path):
+        os.makedirs(cache_path)
+
     if not os.path.exists(cache_path):
         cache_path = platformdirs.user_cache_dir(APP_NAME)
         if not os.path.exists(cache_path):
@@ -28,15 +34,15 @@ def get_cache_file_path():
     return os.path.join(cache_path, APP_NAME)
 
 
-def to_cache(messages):
+def to_cache(messages, args):
     """cache the current messages state"""
-    with open(get_cache_file_path(), "wb") as f:
+    with open(get_cache_file_path(args), "wb") as f:
         pickle.dump(messages, f)
 
 
-def messages_from_cache():
+def messages_from_cache(args):
     """load messages from last state or ChatbladeError if not exists"""
-    file_path = get_cache_file_path()
+    file_path = get_cache_file_path(args)
     if not os.path.exists(file_path):
         raise errors.ChatbladeError("No last state cached from which to begin")
     else: