diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index e45d5cd..5c6eb57 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -169,14 +169,14 @@ conf_to_particle(const struct yml_node *node, struct conf_inherit inherited)
 }
 
 struct bar *
-conf_to_bar(const struct yml_node *bar)
+conf_to_bar(const struct yml_node *bar, enum bar_backend backend)
 {
     if (!conf_verify_bar(bar))
         return NULL;
 
-    struct bar_config conf = {0};
-
-    conf.backend = BAR_BACKEND_AUTO;
+    struct bar_config conf = {
+        .backend = backend,
+    };
 
     /*
      * Required attributes
diff --git a/config.h b/config.h
index ee3f281..a909c60 100644
--- a/config.h
+++ b/config.h
@@ -2,12 +2,13 @@
 
 #include "font.h"
 #include "yml.h"
+#include "bar/bar.h"
 
 struct bar;
 struct particle;
 
 bool conf_verify_bar(const struct yml_node *bar);
-struct bar *conf_to_bar(const struct yml_node *bar);
+struct bar *conf_to_bar(const struct yml_node *bar, enum bar_backend backend);
 
 /*
  * Utility functions, for e.g. modules
diff --git a/doc/f00bar.1.scd b/doc/f00bar.1.scd
index 8bc4a88..b43920f 100644
--- a/doc/f00bar.1.scd
+++ b/doc/f00bar.1.scd
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ f00bar - modular status panel for X11 and Wayland
 
 # OPTIONS
 
+*-b, --backend={xcb,wayland,auto}*
+	Backend to use. The default is *auto*. In this mode, f00bar will
+	look for the environment variable _WAYLAND\_DISPLAY_, and if
+	available, use the *Wayland* backend. If not, the *XCB* backend is
+	used.
+
 *-c, --config=FILE*
 	Use an alternative configuration file instead of the default one.
 
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 39e8292..421f873 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ get_config_path(void)
 }
 
 static struct bar *
-load_bar(const char *config_path)
+load_bar(const char *config_path, enum bar_backend backend)
 {
     FILE *conf_file = fopen(config_path, "r");
     if (conf_file == NULL) {
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ load_bar(const char *config_path)
         goto out;
     }
 
-    bar = conf_to_bar(bar_conf);
+    bar = conf_to_bar(bar_conf, backend);
     if (bar == NULL) {
         LOG_ERR("%s: failed to load configuration", config_path);
         goto out;
@@ -124,9 +124,10 @@ print_usage(const char *prog_name)
     printf("Usage: %s [OPTION]...\n", prog_name);
     printf("\n");
     printf("Options:\n");
-    printf("  -c,--config=FILE           alternative configuration file\n"
-           "  -C,--validate              verify configuration then quit\n"
-           "  -v,--version               print f00sel version and quit\n");
+    printf("  -b,--backend={xcb,wayland,auto}  backend to use (default: auto)\n"
+           "  -c,--config=FILE                 alternative configuration file\n"
+           "  -C,--validate                    verify configuration then quit\n"
+           "  -v,--version                     print f00sel version and quit\n");
 }
 
 int
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ main(int argc, char *const *argv)
     setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
 
     static const struct option longopts[] = {
+        {"backend",          required_argument, 0, 'b'},
         {"config",           required_argument, 0, 'c'},
         {"validate",         no_argument,       0, 'C'},
         {"version",          no_argument,       0, 'v'},
@@ -144,13 +146,25 @@ main(int argc, char *const *argv)
 
     bool verify_config = false;
     char *config_path = NULL;
+    enum bar_backend backend = BAR_BACKEND_AUTO;
 
     while (true) {
-        int c = getopt_long(argc, argv, ":c:Cvh", longopts, NULL);
+        int c = getopt_long(argc, argv, ":b:c:Cvh", longopts, NULL);
         if (c == -1)
             break;
 
         switch (c) {
+        case 'b':
+            if (strcmp(optarg, "xcb") == 0)
+                backend = BAR_BACKEND_XCB;
+            else if (strcmp(optarg, "wayland") == 0)
+                backend = BAR_BACKEND_WAYLAND;
+            else {
+                LOG_ERR("%s: invalid backend", optarg);
+                return EXIT_FAILURE;
+            }
+            break;
+
         case 'c': {
             struct stat st;
             if (stat(optarg, &st) == -1) {
@@ -214,7 +228,7 @@ main(int argc, char *const *argv)
         }
     }
 
-    struct bar *bar = load_bar(config_path);
+    struct bar *bar = load_bar(config_path, backend);
     free(config_path);
 
     if (bar == NULL) {