diff --git a/dotdrop/config.py b/dotdrop/config.py
index 6abcc1e..28367d8 100644
--- a/dotdrop/config.py
+++ b/dotdrop/config.py
@@ -610,11 +610,6 @@ class Cfg:
 
         if self.key_imp_link not in self.lnk_settings:
             self.lnk_settings[self.key_imp_link] = self.default_link_imp
-        elif self.lnk_settings[self.key_imp_link] == self.lnk_children:
-            msg = '\"{}\" not supported in {}'.format(self.lnk_children,
-                                                      self.key_imp_link)
-            self.log.err(msg)
-            return False
         else:
             key = self.lnk_settings[self.key_imp_link]
             if key != self.lnk_parent and \
diff --git a/dotdrop/options.py b/dotdrop/options.py
index 409f6fe..ede4b49 100644
--- a/dotdrop/options.py
+++ b/dotdrop/options.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ stores all options to use across dotdrop
 """
 
 import os
+import sys
 import socket
 from docopt import docopt
 
@@ -31,6 +32,11 @@ NAME = 'dotdrop'
 CONFIG = 'config.yaml'
 HOMECFG = '~/.config/{}'.format(NAME)
 
+OPT_LINK = {
+    'nolink': LinkTypes.NOLINK,
+    'link': LinkTypes.PARENT,
+    'link_children': LinkTypes.CHILDREN}
+
 BANNER = """     _       _      _
   __| | ___ | |_ __| |_ __ ___  _ __
  / _` |/ _ \| __/ _` | '__/ _ \| '_ |
@@ -42,7 +48,7 @@ USAGE = """
 
 Usage:
   dotdrop install   [-VbtfndD] [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [<key>...]
-  dotdrop import    [-Vbld]    [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] <path>...
+  dotdrop import    [-Vbd]     [-c <path>] [-p <profile>] [-l <link>] <path>...
   dotdrop compare   [-Vb]      [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
                                [-o <opts>] [-C <file>...] [-i <pattern>...]
   dotdrop update    [-VbfdkP]  [-c <path>] [-p <profile>]
@@ -59,11 +65,11 @@ Options:
   -C --file=<path>        Path of dotfile to compare.
   -i --ignore=<pattern>   Pattern to ignore.
   -o --dopts=<opts>       Diff options [default: ].
+  -l --link=<link>        "link_import_default" (nolink|link|link_children).
   -n --nodiff             Do not diff when installing.
   -t --temp               Install to a temporary directory for review.
   -T --template           Only template dotfiles.
   -D --showdiff           Show a diff before overwriting.
-  -l --inv-link           Invert "link_import_default".
   -P --show-patch         Provide a one-liner to manually patch template.
   -f --force              Do not warn if exists.
   -k --key                Treat <path> as a dotfile key.
@@ -72,7 +78,6 @@ Options:
   -b --no-banner          Do not display the banner.
   -v --version            Show version.
   -h --help               Show this screen.
-
 """.format(BANNER, PROFILE)
 
 
@@ -181,13 +186,12 @@ class Options(AttrMonitor):
 
         # import link default value
         self.import_link = self.link_import_default
-        if self.args['--inv-link']:
-            if self.import_link == LinkTypes.NOLINK:
-                self.import_link = LinkTypes.PARENT
-            elif self.import_link == LinkTypes.PARENT:
-                self.import_link = LinkTypes.NOLINK
-            elif self.import_link == LinkTypes.CHILDREN:
-                self.import_link = LinkTypes.NOLINK
+        link = self.args['--link']
+        if link:
+            if link not in OPT_LINK.keys():
+                self.log.err('bad option for --link: {}'.format(link))
+                sys.exit(USAGE)
+            self.import_link = OPT_LINK[link]
 
         # "listfiles" specifics
         self.listfiles_templateonly = self.args['--template']
diff --git a/tests/helpers.py b/tests/helpers.py
index 7eac3b1..091cac3 100644
--- a/tests/helpers.py
+++ b/tests/helpers.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def _fake_args():
     args['--force'] = False
     args['--nodiff'] = False
     args['--showdiff'] = True
-    args['--inv-link'] = False
+    args['--link'] = 'nolink'
     args['--template'] = False
     args['--temp'] = False
     args['<key>'] = []
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 4b45013..62990ac 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -50,17 +50,22 @@ class TestConfig(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(conf.dump() != '')
 
     def test_def_link(self):
-        self._test_link_import('nolink', LinkTypes.NOLINK, False)
-        self._test_link_import('link', LinkTypes.PARENT, False)
-        self._test_link_import('nolink', LinkTypes.PARENT, True)
-        self._test_link_import('link', LinkTypes.NOLINK, True)
+        self._test_link_import('nolink', LinkTypes.PARENT, 'link')
+        self._test_link_import('nolink', LinkTypes.NOLINK, 'nolink')
+        self._test_link_import('nolink', LinkTypes.CHILDREN, 'link_children')
+        self._test_link_import('link', LinkTypes.PARENT, 'link')
+        self._test_link_import('link', LinkTypes.NOLINK, 'nolink')
+        self._test_link_import('link', LinkTypes.CHILDREN, 'link_children')
+        self._test_link_import('link_children', LinkTypes.PARENT, 'link')
+        self._test_link_import('link_children', LinkTypes.NOLINK, 'nolink')
+        self._test_link_import('link_children', LinkTypes.CHILDREN,
+                               'link_children')
         self._test_link_import_fail('whatever')
-        self._test_link_import_fail('link_children')
 
     @patch('dotdrop.config.open', create=True)
     @patch('dotdrop.config.os.path.exists', create=True)
     def _test_link_import(self, cfgstring, expected,
-                          invert, mock_exists, mock_open):
+                          cliargs, mock_exists, mock_open):
         data = '''
 config:
   backup: true
@@ -83,8 +88,7 @@ profiles:
         args = _fake_args()
         args['--profile'] = 'p1'
         args['--cfg'] = 'mocked'
-        if invert:
-            args['--inv-link'] = True
+        args['--link'] = cliargs
         o = Options(args=args)
 
         self.assertTrue(o.import_link == expected)