diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 46acee7..b0fa35b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ A simple, rsync-based PocketBase deployment tool.
 
 ## init
 
-- start a new PocketBase project
+- start a new PocketBase project (optionally provide a service name via `pb init <name>`)
 
 ## dev
 
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 018ff66..4b2acb6 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ import (
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
 )
 
+var initServiceNameArg string
+
 func main() {
 	commands := defaultCommands()
 	args := os.Args[1:]
@@ -37,6 +39,11 @@ func main() {
 		return
 	}
 
+	initServiceNameArg = ""
+	if args[0] == "init" && len(args) > 1 {
+		initServiceNameArg = args[1]
+	}
+
 	if args[0] == "menu" {
 		if err := tea.NewProgram(newModel()).Start(); err != nil {
 			log.Fatal(err)
@@ -211,7 +218,7 @@ func runInit() error {
 	}
 
 	defaultName := generateServiceName()
-	serviceName, err := promptServiceName(defaultName)
+	serviceName, err := resolveServiceName(defaultName)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -314,6 +321,14 @@ func promptServiceName(defaultName string) (string, error) {
 	return input, nil
 }
 
+func resolveServiceName(defaultName string) (string, error) {
+	if override := strings.TrimSpace(initServiceNameArg); override != "" {
+		initServiceNameArg = ""
+		return override, nil
+	}
+	return promptServiceName(defaultName)
+}
+
 func pocketbaseBinaryName(goos string) string {
 	if goos == "windows" {
 		return "pocketbase.exe"