diff --git a/cmd/jpictl/config.go b/cmd/jpictl/config.go
index 35c91a7..31ee3ea 100644
--- a/cmd/jpictl/config.go
+++ b/cmd/jpictl/config.go
@@ -12,6 +12,14 @@ const (
 	// DefaultConfigFile is read if -f/--config-file isn't specified.
 	// If it doesn't exist, m/ will be scanned
 	DefaultConfigFile = "cloud.yaml"
+
+	// DefaultClusterDir is the directory we will scan and write
+	// unless something else is indicated
+	DefaultClusterDir = "m"
+
+	// DefaultDomain indicates the domain to use unless
+	// something else is specified
+	DefaultDomain = "jpi.cloud"
 )
 
 // Config describes the repository
@@ -22,27 +30,34 @@ type Config struct {
 	ConfigFile string
 }
 
+var forceScan bool
+
 var cfg = &Config{
-	Base:   "m",
-	Domain: "jpi.cloud",
+	Base:   DefaultClusterDir,
+	Domain: DefaultDomain,
 }
 
 // LoadZones loads all zones and machines in the config directory
 // or file
 func (cfg *Config) LoadZones(resolve bool) (*cluster.Cluster, error) {
-	// try config file first
-	zones, err := cluster.NewFromConfig(cfg.ConfigFile,
-		cluster.ResolvePublicAddresses(resolve),
-		cluster.WithLogger(log),
-	)
+	var zones *cluster.Cluster
+	var err error
+
+	if !forceScan {
+		// try config file first
+		zones, err = cluster.NewFromConfig(cfg.ConfigFile,
+			cluster.ResolvePublicAddresses(resolve),
+			cluster.WithLogger(log),
+		)
 
-	switch {
-	case err == nil:
-		// file was good
-		return zones, nil
-	case !os.IsNotExist(err) || cfg.ConfigFile != DefaultConfigFile:
-		// file was bad
-		return nil, core.Wrap(err, "NewFromConfig(%q)", cfg.ConfigFile)
+		switch {
+		case err == nil:
+			// file was good
+			return zones, nil
+		case !os.IsNotExist(err) || cfg.ConfigFile != DefaultConfigFile:
+			// file was bad
+			return nil, core.Wrap(err, "NewFromConfig(%q)", cfg.ConfigFile)
+		}
 	}
 
 	// default file doesn't exist. scan instead.
@@ -53,7 +68,15 @@ func (cfg *Config) LoadZones(resolve bool) (*cluster.Cluster, error) {
 }
 
 func init() {
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().
-		StringVarP(&cfg.ConfigFile, "config-file", "f",
-			DefaultConfigFile, "config file (JSON or YAML)")
+	flags := rootCmd.PersistentFlags()
+
+	flags.StringVarP(&cfg.Base, "scan-dir", "d",
+		DefaultClusterDir, "directory to scan for cluster data")
+	flags.StringVarP(&cfg.Domain, "domain", "D",
+		DefaultDomain, "domain to use for scanned data")
+	flags.StringVarP(&cfg.ConfigFile, "config-file", "f",
+		DefaultConfigFile, "config file (JSON or YAML)")
+
+	flags.BoolVarP(&forceScan, "force-scan", "S",
+		false, "ignore config file and scan the directory instead")
 }
diff --git a/cmd/jpictl/log.go b/cmd/jpictl/log.go
index 709f5b7..7f31282 100644
--- a/cmd/jpictl/log.go
+++ b/cmd/jpictl/log.go
@@ -3,9 +3,13 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 
+	"darvaza.org/sidecar/pkg/logger/zerolog"
 	"darvaza.org/slog"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
+var log = zerolog.New(nil, slog.Error)
+
 // fatal is a convenience wrapper for slog.Logger.Fatal().Print()
 func fatal(err error, msg string, args ...any) {
 	l := log.Fatal()
@@ -19,3 +23,20 @@ func fatal(err error, msg string, args ...any) {
 
 	panic("unreachable")
 }
+
+var verbosity int
+
+// setVerbosity replaces the global logger using the
+// verbosity level specified via -v flags
+func setVerbosity(_ *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
+	desired := int8(slog.Error) + int8(verbosity)
+	if desired > 6 {
+		desired = 6
+	}
+	log = zerolog.New(nil, slog.LogLevel(desired))
+}
+
+func init() {
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().CountVarP(&verbosity, "verbosity", "v",
+		"increase the verbosity level to Warn, Info or Debug")
+}
diff --git a/cmd/jpictl/main.go b/cmd/jpictl/main.go
index 1cb84a6..5199ca6 100644
--- a/cmd/jpictl/main.go
+++ b/cmd/jpictl/main.go
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"darvaza.org/sidecar/pkg/logger/zerolog"
-	"darvaza.org/slog"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
@@ -13,9 +11,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 var (
-	log       = zerolog.New(nil, slog.Error)
-	verbosity int
-	rootCmd   = &cobra.Command{
+	rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   CmdName,
 		Short: "control tool for jpi.cloud",
 	}
@@ -26,16 +22,3 @@ func main() {
 		fatal(err, "")
 	}
 }
-
-func init() {
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().CountVarP(&verbosity, "verbosity", "v",
-		"increase the verbosity level to Warn, Info or Debug")
-}
-
-func setVerbosity(_ *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
-	desired := int8(slog.Error) + int8(verbosity)
-	if desired > 6 {
-		desired = 6
-	}
-	log = zerolog.New(nil, slog.LogLevel(desired))
-}