diff --git a/cmd/import.go b/cmd/import.go
index 878aad286..81a12a47f 100644
--- a/cmd/import.go
+++ b/cmd/import.go
@@ -19,10 +19,8 @@ import (
 	"io"
 
 	"github.com/pilosa/pilosa"
-
-	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
-
 	"github.com/pilosa/pilosa/ctl"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
 var Importer *ctl.ImportCommand
@@ -55,6 +53,7 @@ omitted. If it is present then its format should be YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM.
 	flags.StringVarP(&Importer.Field, "field", "f", "", "Field to import into.")
 	flags.BoolVar(&Importer.IndexOptions.Keys, "index-keys", false, "Specify keys=true when creating an index")
 	flags.BoolVar(&Importer.FieldOptions.Keys, "field-keys", false, "Specify keys=true when creating a field")
+	flags.StringVar(&Importer.FieldOptions.Type, "field-type", "", "Specify the field type when creating a field. One of: set, int, time, bool, mutex")
 	flags.Int64Var(&Importer.FieldOptions.Min, "field-min", 0, "Specify the minimum for an int field on creation")
 	flags.Int64Var(&Importer.FieldOptions.Max, "field-max", 0, "Specify the maximum for an int field on creation")
 	flags.StringVar(&Importer.FieldOptions.CacheType, "field-cache-type", pilosa.CacheTypeRanked, "Specify the cache type for a set field on creation. One of: none, lru, ranked")
diff --git a/ctl/import.go b/ctl/import.go
index d49b50eb3..ab19064ce 100644
--- a/ctl/import.go
+++ b/ctl/import.go
@@ -99,13 +99,15 @@ func (cmd *ImportCommand) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 	cmd.client = client
 
 	if cmd.CreateSchema {
-		// set the correct type for the field
-		if cmd.FieldOptions.TimeQuantum != "" {
-			cmd.FieldOptions.Type = "time"
-		} else if cmd.FieldOptions.Min != 0 || cmd.FieldOptions.Max != 0 {
-			cmd.FieldOptions.Type = "int"
-		} else {
-			cmd.FieldOptions.Type = "set"
+		if cmd.FieldOptions.Type == "" {
+			// set the correct type for the field
+			if cmd.FieldOptions.TimeQuantum != "" {
+				cmd.FieldOptions.Type = "time"
+			} else if cmd.FieldOptions.Min != 0 || cmd.FieldOptions.Max != 0 {
+				cmd.FieldOptions.Type = "int"
+			} else {
+				cmd.FieldOptions.Type = "set"
+			}
 		}
 		err := cmd.ensureSchema(ctx)
 		if err != nil {