diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7af44ae..b05dda8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ Install packages using the new hotness in Python package management...[`pip`](ht
 - interpreter: The Python interpreter to use. default is `python2.6`
 - owner: The owner for the virtualenv
 - group: The group owner of the file (string or id)
+- options : Command line options (string)
 
 # Example
 
@@ -116,6 +117,14 @@ Install packages using the new hotness in Python package management...[`pip`](ht
       action :create
     end
 
+    # create a Python 2.6 virtualenv with access to the global packages owned by ubuntu user
+    python_virtualenv "/home/ubuntu/my_old_ve" do
+      owner "ubuntu"
+      group "ubuntu"
+      options "--system-site-packages"
+      action :create
+    end
+
 Usage
 =====
 
diff --git a/providers/virtualenv.rb b/providers/virtualenv.rb
index 22f2b7b..d10f099 100644
--- a/providers/virtualenv.rb
+++ b/providers/virtualenv.rb
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 action :create do
   unless exists?
     Chef::Log.info("Creating virtualenv #{@new_resource} at #{@new_resource.path}")
-    execute "#{virtualenv_cmd} --python=#{@new_resource.interpreter} #{@new_resource.path}" do
+    execute "#{virtualenv_cmd} --python=#{@new_resource.interpreter} #{@new_resource.options} #{@new_resource.path}" do
       user new_resource.owner if new_resource.owner
       group new_resource.group if new_resource.group
     end
diff --git a/resources/virtualenv.rb b/resources/virtualenv.rb
index c5840a2..7803c14 100644
--- a/resources/virtualenv.rb
+++ b/resources/virtualenv.rb
@@ -24,3 +24,4 @@
 attribute :interpreter, :default => 'python2.6'
 attribute :owner, :regex => Chef::Config[:user_valid_regex]
 attribute :group, :regex => Chef::Config[:group_valid_regex]
+attribute :options, :kind_of => String