diff --git a/compiler/main.v b/compiler/main.v
index 6e3bbe68d5..47ad596cdc 100644
--- a/compiler/main.v
+++ b/compiler/main.v
@@ -193,11 +193,6 @@ fn main() {
 			os.mkdir(ModPath)
 		}
 	}
-	// No args? REPL
-	if args.len < 2 || (args.len == 2 && args[1] == '-') {
-		run_repl()
-		return
-	}
 	// Construct the V object from command line arguments
 	mut v := new_v(args)
 	if v.pref.is_verbose {
@@ -216,6 +211,12 @@ fn main() {
 		v.run_compiled_executable_and_exit()
 	}
 
+	// No args? REPL
+	if args.len < 2 || (args.len == 2 && args[1] == '-') || 'runrepl' in args {
+		run_repl()
+		return
+	}
+
 	v.compile()
 
 	if v.pref.is_test {
diff --git a/compiler/tests/repl/repl_test.v b/compiler/tests/repl/repl_test.v
index a4ff4b40f3..29eb0cd8fa 100644
--- a/compiler/tests/repl/repl_test.v
+++ b/compiler/tests/repl/repl_test.v
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ fn test_the_v_repl() {
 		input_temporary_filename := 'input_temporary_filename.txt'
 		os.write_file(input_temporary_filename, input)
 		defer { os.rm(input_temporary_filename) }		
-		r := os.exec('$vexec < $input_temporary_filename') or {
+		r := os.exec('$vexec runrepl < $input_temporary_filename') or {
 			assert false
 			break
 		}