diff --git a/src/__tests__/fixtures/templates/configfile/configfile.yaml b/src/__tests__/fixtures/templates/configfile/configfile.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1dfb9ac3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/__tests__/fixtures/templates/configfile/configfile.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+
+comparisons:
+  good: 1
+  better: 2
+  best: 3
+  bestest: 4
diff --git a/src/__tests__/params.spec.ts b/src/__tests__/params.spec.ts
index 18dd29f9..71aff428 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/params.spec.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/params.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import path from 'path'
-import params from '../params'
+import {configfile, params } from '../params'
 
 const fixture = (...segments) =>
   path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures', 'templates', ...segments)
@@ -54,3 +54,17 @@ describe('params', () => {
     })
   })
 })
+
+describe('local parameters can be loaded from a yaml file', () => {
+  it('should resolve yaml file', () => {
+    const configContents = configfile(fixture("configfile","configfile.yaml"))
+    expect(configContents).toEqual({
+      comparisons: {
+        good: 1,
+        better: 2,
+        best: 3,
+        bestest: 4
+      }
+    })
+  })
+})
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/engine.ts b/src/engine.ts
index 7b33a7ce..633f6255 100644
--- a/src/engine.ts
+++ b/src/engine.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import fs from 'fs-extra'
 import type { ActionResult, RunnerConfig } from './types'
-import params from './params'
+import { params, configfile } from './params'
 
 class ShowHelpError extends Error {
   constructor(message: string) {
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ Usage:
   hygen [option] GENERATOR ACTION [--name NAME] [data-options]
 
 Options:
-  -h, --help # Show this message and quit
-  --dry      # Perform a dry run.  Files will be generated but not saved.`)
+  -h, --help   # Show this message and quit
+  --dry        # Perform a dry run.  Files will be generated but not saved.
+  --configfile # Load this file as the local parameters for the template`)
     process.exit(0)
   }
 
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ Options:
 
   logger.log(`Loaded templates: ${templates.replace(`${cwd}/`, '')}`)
   if (!(await fs.exists(actionfolder))) {
+    console.log(actionfolder)
     throw new ShowHelpError(`I can't find action '${action}' for generator '${generator}'.
 
       You can try:
@@ -48,6 +50,9 @@ Options:
       Check out the quickstart for more: https://hygen.io/docs/quick-start
       `)
   }
+  if (args.configfile) {
+    config.localsDefaults = configfile(args.configfile)
+  }
 
   // lazy loading these dependencies gives a better feel once
   // a user is exploring hygen (not specifying what to execute)
diff --git a/src/params.ts b/src/params.ts
index 348fac87..32e2e966 100644
--- a/src/params.ts
+++ b/src/params.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import path from 'path'
 import yargs from 'yargs-parser'
 import fs from 'fs-extra'
 import type { ParamsResult, RunnerConfig } from './types'
+import YAML from 'yaml'
 
 import prompt from './prompt'
 export const DEFAULT_ACTION = '_default'
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ const resolvePositionals = async (templates: string, args: string[]) => {
   return [generator, action, name]
 }
 
-const params = async (
+export const params = async (
   { templates, createPrompter }: RunnerConfig,
   externalArgv: string[],
 ): Promise<ParamsResult> => {
@@ -86,4 +87,7 @@ const params = async (
   return args
 }
 
-export default params
+export const configfile = (configfile: string) => {
+  const file = fs.readFileSync(configfile, 'utf8')
+  return YAML.parse(file)
+}
diff --git a/src/types.ts b/src/types.ts
index fd0d0a92..abff587f 100644
--- a/src/types.ts
+++ b/src/types.ts
@@ -52,4 +52,5 @@ export type ParamsResult = {
   actionfolder?: string
   name?: string
   dry?: boolean
+  configfile?: string
 } & object