diff --git a/scurvysin/__init__.py b/scurvysin/__init__.py
index 2ec8826..967d673 100644
--- a/scurvysin/__init__.py
+++ b/scurvysin/__init__.py
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@
 import os
 import subprocess
 import sys
-from typing import Dict
+from typing import Dict, List
 
 
-__version__ = "0.1.1"
+__version__ = "0.1.2"
 
 
 class CondaFlags:
@@ -82,7 +82,28 @@ def get_pip_requirements(req: str) -> Dict[str, str]:
         exit(1)
 
 
+def parse_requirements_file(path: str) -> List[str]:
+    reqs = []
+    with open(path, "r") as infile:
+        for line in infile:
+            line = line.strip()
+            if line.startswith("-"):
+                raise NotImplementedError("Pip flags in requirements files are not understood.")
+            elif line.startswith("#"):
+                continue
+            else:
+                reqs.append(line)
+    return list(sorted(reqs))
+
+
 def try_install(req: str, opts: dict, coflags: CondaFlags, pipflags: PipFlags) -> None:
+    if opts.pop("requirement", False):
+        print(f"Reading requirements file {req}")
+        requirements = parse_requirements_file(req)
+        print(f"Dependencies from {req}: {requirements}.")
+        for requirement in requirements:
+            try_install(requirement, opts, coflags, pipflags)
+        return
     print(f"Checking {req} in conda...")
     if available_in_conda(req):
         print(f"Package {req} found in conda.")
diff --git a/scurvysin/cli.py b/scurvysin/cli.py
index 9eae683..da9e5fc 100644
--- a/scurvysin/cli.py
+++ b/scurvysin/cli.py
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@
 
 
 def extopts(args: argparse.Namespace):
-    return {"show_only" : args.show_only}
+    return {
+        "show_only": args.show_only,
+        "requirement": args.requirement,
+    }
 
 
 def main():
@@ -15,6 +18,8 @@ def main():
                         help="don't let conda/pip perform installation")
     parser.add_argument('--show-only', action='store_true',
                         help="only show what would be done")
+    parser.add_argument('--requirement', '-r', action='store_true',
+                        help="use requirements file")
     parser.add_argument('req', help="distribution to install")
     args = parser.parse_args()