diff --git a/c_test_environment/grappa_ingest.py b/c_test_environment/grappa_ingest.py
index 5cbe8f1f..b04fe0d1 100644
--- a/c_test_environment/grappa_ingest.py
+++ b/c_test_environment/grappa_ingest.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 p.add_argument("-s", dest="system", help="clang or grappa", default="clang")
 p.add_argument("--splits", dest="splits", action="store_true", help="input file is base directory of file splits (e.g. hdfs)")
 p.add_argument("--softlink-data", dest="softlink_data", action="store_true", help="data file softlinked rather than copied")
+p.add_argument("--local-softlink-data", dest="local_softlink_data", action="store_true", help="softlink locally, only use if --host!=localhost but want local softlink (e.g. NFS)")
 p.add_argument("--host", dest="host", help="hostname of server", default="localhost")
 p.add_argument("--port", dest="port", help="port server is listening on", default=1337)
 p.add_argument("--external-string-index", dest="ext_index", action="store_true", help="Create string external string index that is deprecated after raco@40640adff89e1c1aade007a998b335b623ff22aa")
@@ -54,8 +55,8 @@ def softlink(self, files):
         if len(files) == 0:
             return
 
-        assert self.hostname == 'localhost', "softlink currently supported " \
-                                "only for localhost"
+        assert self.hostname == 'localhost' or args.local_softlink_data, "softlink currently supported " \
+                                "only for localhost unless using --local-softlink-data"
 
         path = self._get_upload_path()