diff --git a/src/spice2x/cfg/option.h b/src/spice2x/cfg/option.h
index d4bf6db..6aa39c9 100644
--- a/src/spice2x/cfg/option.h
+++ b/src/spice2x/cfg/option.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ public:
     std::string value;
     std::vector<Option> alternatives;
     bool disabled = false;
+    bool conflicting = false;
 
     explicit Option(OptionDefinition definition, std::string value = "") :
         definition(std::move(definition)), value(std::move(value)) {
diff --git a/src/spice2x/launcher/launcher.cpp b/src/spice2x/launcher/launcher.cpp
index f7c0289..a8d9f2b 100644
--- a/src/spice2x/launcher/launcher.cpp
+++ b/src/spice2x/launcher/launcher.cpp
@@ -244,6 +244,11 @@ int main_implementation(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     // parse arguments
     LAUNCHER_OPTIONS = launcher::parse_options(argc, argv);
 
+    // command line override (must be done before merging options with cfg)
+    if (LAUNCHER_OPTIONS->at(launcher::Options::OptionConflictResolution).value_bool()) {
+        launcher::USE_CMD_OVERRIDE = true;
+    }
+
     // determine config file path - must be done before anything else
     const auto &cfg_path = LAUNCHER_OPTIONS->at(launcher::Options::ConfigurationPath);
     if (cfg_path.is_active()) {
@@ -285,6 +290,7 @@ int main_implementation(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         cfg::CONFIGURATOR_TYPE = cfg::ConfigType::Config;
         cfg_run = true;
     }
+
     if (options[launcher::Options::EAmusementEmulation].value_bool() &&
         options[launcher::Options::ServiceURL].is_active() &&
         !cfg::CONFIGURATOR_STANDALONE) {
@@ -1220,6 +1226,38 @@ int main_implementation(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     }
     log_info("launcher", "arguments:\n{}", arguments.str());
 
+    // print out conflicts
+    size_t conflicts = 0;
+    for (const auto &option : options) {
+        if (option.conflicting && option.get_definition().type != OptionType::Bool) {
+            conflicts += 1;
+            if (launcher::USE_CMD_OVERRIDE) {
+                log_warning(
+                    "launcher",
+                    "multiple values for -{}, command line args take precedence: {}",
+                    option.get_definition().name, 
+                    option.value);
+            } else {
+                log_warning(
+                    "launcher",
+                    "multiple values for -{}, spicecfg values take precedence: {}",
+                    option.get_definition().name,
+                    option.value);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    if (conflicts) {
+        if (launcher::USE_CMD_OVERRIDE) {
+            log_info(
+                "launcher",
+                "user specified -cmdoverride, therefore command line args took precedence over spicecfg"); 
+        } else {
+            log_warning(
+                "launcher",
+                "spicecfg values take precedence over command line args; to change this behavior, use -cmdoverride");
+        }
+    }
+
     if (options[launcher::Options::FullscreenResolution].is_active()) {
         std::pair<uint32_t, uint32_t> result;
         if (parse_width_height(options[launcher::Options::FullscreenResolution].value_text(), result)) {
diff --git a/src/spice2x/launcher/options.cpp b/src/spice2x/launcher/options.cpp
index 95e2001..c2757b7 100644
--- a/src/spice2x/launcher/options.cpp
+++ b/src/spice2x/launcher/options.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ static const std::vector<std::string> CATEGORY_ORDER_NONE = {
     ""
 };
 
+bool launcher::USE_CMD_OVERRIDE = false;
+
 /*
  * Option Definitions
  * Be aware that the order must be the same as in the enum launcher::Options!
@@ -81,6 +83,7 @@ static const std::vector<OptionDefinition> OPTION_DEFINITIONS = {
         .category = "Network",
     },
     {
+        // ServiceURL
         .title = "EA Service URL",
         .name = "url",
         .desc = "Sets a custom service URL override",
@@ -142,6 +145,7 @@ static const std::vector<OptionDefinition> OPTION_DEFINITIONS = {
         .category = "Graphics (Windowed)",
     },
     {
+        // InjectHook
         .title = "Inject DLL Hooks",
         .name = "k",
         .desc = "Multiple files are allowed; use multiple -k flags, or in SpiceCfg, separate by "
@@ -152,6 +156,7 @@ static const std::vector<OptionDefinition> OPTION_DEFINITIONS = {
         .category = "Common",
     },
     {
+        // EarlyInjectHook
         .title = "Inject Early DLL Hooks",
         .name = "z",
         .desc = "Equivalent to 'Inject DLL Hooks' option, but ensures hooks are injected before "
@@ -668,6 +673,7 @@ static const std::vector<OptionDefinition> OPTION_DEFINITIONS = {
         .category = "Game Options (Advanced)",
     },
     {
+        // SDVXPrinterOutputPath
         .title = "SDVX Printer Output Path",
         .name = "printerpath",
         .desc = "Path to folder where images will be stored",
@@ -692,6 +698,7 @@ static const std::vector<OptionDefinition> OPTION_DEFINITIONS = {
         .category = "Game Options (Advanced)",
     },
     {
+        // SDVXPrinterOutputFormat
         .title = "SDVX Printer Output Format",
         .name = "printerformat",
         .desc = "File format for printer output",
@@ -1311,6 +1318,7 @@ static const std::vector<OptionDefinition> OPTION_DEFINITIONS = {
         .category = "Touch Parameters",
     },
     {
+        // ICCAReaderPort
         .title = "ICCA Reader Port",
         .name = "reader",
         .desc = "Connects to and uses a ICCA on a given COM port",
@@ -1387,6 +1395,7 @@ static const std::vector<OptionDefinition> OPTION_DEFINITIONS = {
         },
     },
     {
+        // SextetStreamPort
         .title = "SextetStream Port",
         .name = "sextet",
         .desc = "Use a SextetStream device on a given COM port",
@@ -2260,6 +2269,7 @@ static const std::vector<OptionDefinition> OPTION_DEFINITIONS = {
         .category = "Game Options",
     },
     {
+        // LovePlusPrinterOutputPath
         .title = "LovePlus Printer Output Path",
         .name = "lpprinterpath",
         .desc = "Path to folder where images will be stored",
@@ -2284,6 +2294,7 @@ static const std::vector<OptionDefinition> OPTION_DEFINITIONS = {
         .category = "Game Options (Advanced)",
     },
     {
+        // LovePlusPrinterOutputFormat
         .title = "LovePlus Printer Output Format",
         .name = "lpprinterformat",
         .desc = "File format for printer output",
@@ -2301,6 +2312,16 @@ static const std::vector<OptionDefinition> OPTION_DEFINITIONS = {
         .game_name = "LovePlus",
         .category = "Game Options (Advanced)",
     },
+    {
+        // OptionConflictResolution
+        .title = "Command Line Args Override",
+        .name = "cmdoverride",
+        .desc = "By default, option values in spicecfg take precedence over command-line args, for legacy compat.\n"
+            "When this is specified in command line, command-line args take precedence instead",
+        .type = OptionType::Bool,
+        .category = "Development",
+        .disabled = true,
+    },
 };
 
 const std::vector<std::string> &launcher::get_categories(Options::OptionsCategory category) {
@@ -2482,12 +2503,25 @@ std::vector<Option> launcher::merge_options(
                         auto &new_option = merged.emplace_back(option.get_definition(), "");
                         new_option.disabled = true;
 
-                        for (auto &value : option.values()) {
-                            new_option.value_add(value);
-                        }
-                        for (auto &value : override.values()) {
-                            new_option.value_add(value);
+                        if (USE_CMD_OVERRIDE) {
+                            // command-line arguments take precedence (opt-in)
+                            for (auto &value : override.values()) {
+                                new_option.value_add(value);
+                            }
+                            for (auto &value : option.values()) {
+                                new_option.value_add(value);
+                            }
+                        } else {
+                            // spicecfg options take precedence (default)
+                            // this sucks, but it's the default for legacy spicetools compat
+                            for (auto &value : option.values()) {
+                                new_option.value_add(value);
+                            }
+                            for (auto &value : override.values()) {
+                                new_option.value_add(value);
+                            }
                         }
+                        new_option.conflicting = true;
                     } else {
                         auto &new_option = merged.emplace_back(override.get_definition(), "");
                         new_option.disabled = true;
@@ -2503,7 +2537,6 @@ std::vector<Option> launcher::merge_options(
             }
         }
     }
-
     return merged;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/spice2x/launcher/options.h b/src/spice2x/launcher/options.h
index b3e1c86..41173de 100644
--- a/src/spice2x/launcher/options.h
+++ b/src/spice2x/launcher/options.h
@@ -246,6 +246,7 @@ namespace launcher {
             LovePlusPrinterOutputOverwrite,
             LovePlusPrinterOutputFormat,
             LovePlusPrinterJPGQuality,
+            OptionConflictResolution,
         };
 
         enum class OptionsCategory {
@@ -257,6 +258,8 @@ namespace launcher {
         };
     }
 
+    extern bool USE_CMD_OVERRIDE;
+    
     const std::vector<std::string> &get_categories(Options::OptionsCategory category);
     const std::vector<OptionDefinition> &get_option_definitions();
     std::unique_ptr<std::vector<Option>> parse_options(int argc, char *argv[]);