diff --git a/src/filter.py b/src/filter.py
index b4ffba1..fab289d 100644
--- a/src/filter.py
+++ b/src/filter.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def get_stream_info(client, path):
 
 class Filter(object):
 
-    def __init__(self):
+    def __init__(self, parser_description = None):
         self._parser = None
         self._client_src = None
         self._client_dest = None
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ class Filter(object):
         self.end = None
         self.interhost = False
         self.force_metadata = False
+        if parser_description is not None:
+            self.setup_parser(parser_description)
+            self.parse_args()
 
     @property
     def client_src(self):