diff --git a/Documentation/diff-options.txt b/Documentation/diff-options.txt
index c9c6c2b1cb..4a968591cb 100644
--- a/Documentation/diff-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/diff-options.txt
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ endif::git-format-patch[]
 ifndef::git-format-patch[]
 -p::
 -u::
+--patch::
 	Generate patch (see section on generating patches).
 	{git-diff? This is the default.}
 endif::git-format-patch[]
diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index e49f14a924..43a313deba 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -2701,7 +2701,7 @@ int diff_opt_parse(struct diff_options *options, const char **av, int ac)
 	const char *arg = av[0];
 
 	/* Output format options */
-	if (!strcmp(arg, "-p") || !strcmp(arg, "-u"))
+	if (!strcmp(arg, "-p") || !strcmp(arg, "-u") || !strcmp(arg, "--patch"))
 		options->output_format |= DIFF_FORMAT_PATCH;
 	else if (opt_arg(arg, 'U', "unified", &options->context))
 		options->output_format |= DIFF_FORMAT_PATCH;