diff --git a/Mixer/Chain.C b/Mixer/Chain.C
index 651ffda..8a33b32 100644
--- a/Mixer/Chain.C
+++ b/Mixer/Chain.C
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@
 #include "Mixer_Strip.H"
 #include <dsp.h>
 
+extern char *instance_name;
 
 
 
@@ -402,7 +403,7 @@ Chain::can_configure_outputs ( Module *m, int n ) const
 int
 Chain::maximum_name_length ( void )
 {
-    return JACK::Client::maximum_name_length() - strlen( APP_NAME "/" );
+    return JACK::Client::maximum_name_length() - ( strlen( APP_NAME ) + 1 + ( instance_name ? strlen( instance_name ) + 1 : 0 ) );
 }
 
 /* rename chain... we have to let our modules know our name has
@@ -412,7 +413,7 @@ void
 Chain::name ( const char *name )
 {
     char ename[512];
-    snprintf( ename, sizeof(ename), "%s/%s", APP_NAME, name );
+    snprintf( ename, sizeof(ename), "%s%s%s/%s", APP_NAME, instance_name ? "." : "", instance_name ? instance_name : "", name );
 
     if ( ! _engine )
     {
diff --git a/Mixer/main.C b/Mixer/main.C
index 87ce399..10045be 100644
--- a/Mixer/main.C
+++ b/Mixer/main.C
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@
 char *user_config_dir;
 Mixer *mixer;
 
+const char *instance_name;
+
 #include <errno.h>
 
 static int
@@ -134,19 +136,41 @@ main ( int argc, char **argv )
     }
 
     {
-        if ( argc > 1 )
+        int r = argc - 1;
+        int i = 1;
+        for ( ; i < argc; ++i, --r )
         {
-            MESSAGE( "Loading \"%s\"", argv[1] );
+            if ( !strcmp( argv[i], "--instance" ) )
+            {
+                if ( r > 1 )
+                {
+                    MESSAGE( "Using instance name \"%s\"", argv[i+1] );
+                    instance_name = argv[i+1];
+                    ++i;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    FATAL( "Missing instance name" );
+                }
+            }
+            else if ( !strncmp( argv[i], "--", 2 ) )
+            {
+                WARNING( "Unrecognized option: %s", argv[i] );
+            }
+            else
+                break;
+        }
 
-            if ( ! mixer->command_load( argv[1] ) )
+        if ( r >= 1 )
+        {
+            MESSAGE( "Loading \"%s\"", argv[i] );
+
+            if ( ! mixer->command_load( argv[i] ) )
             {
                 fl_alert( "Error opening project specified on commandline" );
             }
         }
-        else
-        {
-            WARNING( "Running without a project--nothing will be saved." );
-        }
+
     }
 
     Fl::run();