diff --git a/wallettool/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/wallettool/WalletTool.java b/wallettool/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/wallettool/WalletTool.java
index 303489cb2..3a69e28bf 100644
--- a/wallettool/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/wallettool/WalletTool.java
+++ b/wallettool/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/wallettool/WalletTool.java
@@ -187,6 +187,8 @@ public class WalletTool implements Callable<Integer> {
             "BLOCK      A new block that builds on the best chain.%n" +
             "BALANCE    Waits until the wallets balance meets the --condition.")
     private WaitForEnum waitFor = null;
+    @CommandLine.Option(names = "--filter", description = "Use filter when synching the chain. Valid values: ${COMPLETION-CANDIDATES}. Default: ${DEFAULT-VALUE}")
+    private Filter filter = Filter.SERVER;
     @CommandLine.Option(names = "--chain", description = "Specifies the name of the file that stores the block chain.")
     private File chainFile = null;
     @CommandLine.Option(names = "--pubkey", description = "Specifies a hex/base58 encoded non-compressed public key.")
@@ -323,6 +325,11 @@ public class WalletTool implements Callable<Integer> {
         BALANCE
     }
 
+    public enum Filter  {
+        NONE,
+        SERVER, // bloom filter
+    }
+
     public static void main(String[] args) {
         int exitCode = new CommandLine(new WalletTool()).execute(args);
         System.exit(exitCode);
@@ -987,6 +994,7 @@ public class WalletTool implements Callable<Integer> {
             peerGroup.setMaxConnections(1);
         }
         peerGroup.addWallet(wallet);
+        peerGroup.setBloomFilteringEnabled(filter == Filter.SERVER);
         if (peersStr != null) {
             String[] peerAddrs = peersStr.split(",");
             for (String peer : peerAddrs) {