diff --git a/bin/pt-mysql-summary b/bin/pt-mysql-summary
index 8691b59f..ad829b41 100755
--- a/bin/pt-mysql-summary
+++ b/bin/pt-mysql-summary
@@ -347,14 +347,14 @@ _parse_command_line() {
 
       if [ "$next_opt_is_val" ]; then
          next_opt_is_val=""
-         if [ $# -eq 0 ] || [ $(expr "$opt" : "-") -eq 1 ]; then
+         if [ $# -eq 0 ] || [ $(expr "$opt" : "\-") -eq 1 ]; then
             option_error "$real_opt requires a $required_arg argument"
             continue
          fi
          val="$opt"
          opt_is_ok=1
       else
-         if [ $(expr "$opt" : "-") -eq 0 ]; then
+         if [ $(expr "$opt" : "\-") -eq 0 ]; then
             if [ -z "$ARGV" ]; then
                ARGV="$opt"
             else
@@ -450,6 +450,46 @@ size_to_bytes() {
 # End parse_options package
 # ###########################################################################
 
+# ###########################################################################
+# mysql_options package
+# This package is a copy without comments from the original.  The original
+# with comments and its test file can be found in the Bazaar repository at,
+#   lib/bash/mysql_options.sh
+#   t/lib/bash/mysql_options.sh
+# See https://launchpad.net/percona-toolkit for more information.
+# ###########################################################################
+
+
+set -u
+
+mysql_options() {
+   local MYSQL_ARGS=""
+   if [ -n "$OPT_DEFAULTS_FILE" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="--defaults-file=$OPT_DEFAULTS_FILE"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_PORT" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --port=$OPT_PORT"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_SOCKET" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --socket=$OPT_SOCKET"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_HOST" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --host=$OPT_HOST"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_USER" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --user='$OPT_USER'"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_PASSWORD" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --password='$OPT_PASSWORD'"
+   fi
+   
+   echo $MYSQL_ARGS
+}
+
+# ###########################################################################
+# End mysql_options package
+# ###########################################################################
+
 # ###########################################################################
 # tmpdir package
 # This package is a copy without comments from the original.  The original
@@ -788,7 +828,6 @@ collect_mysqld_instances () {
          echo "internal::oom_of_$pid    $oom" >> "$variables_file"
       done
 
-      pids="$pids"
       pids="$(echo $pids | sed -e 's/ /,/g')"
       ps ww -p "$pids" 2>/dev/null
    else
@@ -930,8 +969,13 @@ get_mysqldump_args () {
 collect_mysqld_executables () {
    local mysqld_instances="$1"
 
+   local ps_opt="cmd="
+   if [ "$(uname -s)" = "Darwin" ]; then
+      ps_opt="command="
+   fi
+
    for pid in $( grep '/mysqld' "$mysqld_instances" | awk '/^.*[0-9]/{print $1}' ); do
-      ps -o cmd -p $pid | sed -e 's/^\(.*mysqld\) .*/\1/' | grep -v '^CMD$'
+      ps -o $ps_opt -p $pid | sed -e 's/^\(.*mysqld\) .*/\1/'
    done | sort -u
 }
 
@@ -2185,7 +2229,7 @@ report_mysql_summary () {
       || [ -e "$dir/mysqldump" -a -s "$dir/mysqldump" ]; then
       reply="y"
    elif [ -t 0 -a -t 1 ]; then
-      echo -n "Would you like to mysqldump -d the schema and analyze it? y/n "
+      printf "Would you like to mysqldump -d the schema and analyze it? y/n "
       read reply
       reply=${reply:-n}
    fi
@@ -2193,7 +2237,7 @@ report_mysql_summary () {
       if [ -z "${OPT_DATABASES}" ] && [ -z "$OPT_READ_SAMPLES" ] \
          && [ ! -e "$dir/mysqldump" ]; then
          echo "There are ${num_dbs} databases.  Would you like to dump all, or just one?"
-         echo -n "Type the name of the database, or press Enter to dump all of them. "
+         printf "Type the name of the database, or press Enter to dump all of them. "
          local dbtodump=""
          read dbtodump
          local trg_arg="$( get_mysqldump_args "$dir/mysql-variables" )"
@@ -2320,6 +2364,7 @@ report_mysql_summary () {
 
    section "Configuration File"
    local cnf_file="$(get_var "pt-summary-internal-Config_File_path" "$dir/mysql-variables")"
+
    if [ -n "${cnf_file}" ]; then
       name_val "Config File" "${cnf_file}"
       pretty_print_cnf_file "$dir/mysql-config-file"
@@ -2376,6 +2421,14 @@ main() {
    # Prepending SIG to these doesn't work with NetBSD's sh
    trap sigtrap HUP INT TERM
 
+   local MYSQL_ARGS="$(mysql_options)"
+   EXT_ARGV="$EXT_ARGV $MYSQL_ARGS"
+
+   # Check if mysql and mysqldump are there, otherwise bail out early.
+   # But don't if they passed in --read-samples, since we don't need
+   # a connection then.
+   [ "$OPT_READ_SAMPLES" ] || check_mysql
+
    local RAN_WITH="--sleep=$OPT_SLEEP --databases=$OPT_DATABASES --save-samples=$OPT_SAVE_SAMPLES"
 
    _d "Starting $0 $RAN_WITH"
@@ -2442,11 +2495,6 @@ if    [ "${0##*/}" = "$TOOL" ] \
       exit 0
    fi
 
-   # Check if mysql and mysqldump are there, otherwise bail out early.
-   # But don't if they passed in --read-samples, since we don't need
-   # a connection then.
-   [ "$OPT_READ_SAMPLES" ] || check_mysql
-
    main "${@:-""}"
 fi
 
@@ -2498,7 +2546,7 @@ and other scripting languages.
 To use, simply execute it.  Optionally add a double dash and then the same
 command-line options you would use to connect to MySQL, such as the following:
 
-  pt-mysql-summary -- --user=root
+  pt-mysql-summary --user=root
 
 The tool interacts minimally with the server upon which it runs.  It assumes
 that you'll run it on the same server you're inspecting, and therefore it
@@ -2923,10 +2971,47 @@ Seconds to sleep when gathering status counters.
 
 Print tool's version and exit.
 
+=item --defaults-file
+
+short form: -F; type: string
+
+Only read mysql options from the given file.  You must give an absolute
+pathname.
+
+=item --host
+
+short form: -h; type: string; default: localhost
+
+Host to connect to.
+
+=item --password
+
+short form: -p; type: string
+
+Password to use when connecting.
+
+=item --port
+
+short form: -P; type: int
+
+Port number to use for connection.
+
+=item --socket
+
+short form: -S; type: string
+
+Socket file to use for connection.
+
+=item --user
+
+short form: -u; type: string
+
+User for login if not current user.
+
 =back
 
 =head1 ENVIRONMENT
-
+ 
 This tool does not use any environment variables.
 
 =head1 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
diff --git a/bin/pt-stalk b/bin/pt-stalk
index 8adbd5bc..859debae 100755
--- a/bin/pt-stalk
+++ b/bin/pt-stalk
@@ -347,14 +347,14 @@ _parse_command_line() {
 
       if [ "$next_opt_is_val" ]; then
          next_opt_is_val=""
-         if [ $# -eq 0 ] || [ $(expr "$opt" : "-") -eq 1 ]; then
+         if [ $# -eq 0 ] || [ $(expr "$opt" : "\-") -eq 1 ]; then
             option_error "$real_opt requires a $required_arg argument"
             continue
          fi
          val="$opt"
          opt_is_ok=1
       else
-         if [ $(expr "$opt" : "-") -eq 0 ]; then
+         if [ $(expr "$opt" : "\-") -eq 0 ]; then
             if [ -z "$ARGV" ]; then
                ARGV="$opt"
             else
@@ -450,6 +450,46 @@ size_to_bytes() {
 # End parse_options package
 # ###########################################################################
 
+# ###########################################################################
+# mysql_options package
+# This package is a copy without comments from the original.  The original
+# with comments and its test file can be found in the Bazaar repository at,
+#   lib/bash/mysql_options.sh
+#   t/lib/bash/mysql_options.sh
+# See https://launchpad.net/percona-toolkit for more information.
+# ###########################################################################
+
+
+set -u
+
+mysql_options() {
+   local MYSQL_ARGS=""
+   if [ -n "$OPT_DEFAULTS_FILE" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="--defaults-file=$OPT_DEFAULTS_FILE"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_PORT" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --port=$OPT_PORT"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_SOCKET" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --socket=$OPT_SOCKET"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_HOST" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --host=$OPT_HOST"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_USER" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --user='$OPT_USER'"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_PASSWORD" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --password='$OPT_PASSWORD'"
+   fi
+   
+   echo $MYSQL_ARGS
+}
+
+# ###########################################################################
+# End mysql_options package
+# ###########################################################################
+
 # ###########################################################################
 # tmpdir package
 # This package is a copy without comments from the original.  The original
@@ -1347,6 +1387,9 @@ if    [ "${0##*/}" = "$TOOL" ] \
       exit 0
    fi
 
+   local MYSQL_ARGS="$(mysql_options)"
+   EXT_ARGV="$EXT_ARGV $MYSQL_ARGS"
+
    # Check that mysql and mysqladmin are in PATH.  If not, we're
    # already dead in the water, so don't bother with cmd line opts,
    # just error and exit.
@@ -1416,7 +1459,7 @@ pt-stalk - Gather forensic data about MySQL when a problem occurs.
 
 =head1 SYNOPSIS
 
-Usage: pt-stalk [OPTIONS] [-- MYSQL OPTIONS]
+Usage: pt-stalk [OPTIONS] [-- EXTRA MYSQL OPTIONS]
 
 pt-stalk watches for a trigger condition to become true, and then collects data
 to help in diagnosing problems. It is designed to run as a daemon with root
@@ -1883,6 +1926,43 @@ want to use a higher verbosity level.
 
 Print tool's version and exit.
 
+=item --defaults-file
+
+short form: -F; type: string
+
+Only read mysql options from the given file.  You must give an absolute
+pathname.
+
+=item --host
+
+short form: -h; type: string; default: localhost
+
+Host to connect to.
+
+=item --password
+
+short form: -p; type: string
+
+Password to use when connecting.
+
+=item --port
+
+short form: -P; type: int
+
+Port number to use for connection.
+
+=item --socket
+
+short form: -S; type: string
+
+Socket file to use for connection.
+
+=item --user
+
+short form: -u; type: string
+
+User for login if not current user.
+
 =back
 
 =head1 ENVIRONMENT
diff --git a/bin/pt-summary b/bin/pt-summary
index 32e864b7..32a8b7db 100755
--- a/bin/pt-summary
+++ b/bin/pt-summary
@@ -354,14 +354,14 @@ _parse_command_line() {
 
       if [ "$next_opt_is_val" ]; then
          next_opt_is_val=""
-         if [ $# -eq 0 ] || [ $(expr "$opt" : "-") -eq 1 ]; then
+         if [ $# -eq 0 ] || [ $(expr "$opt" : "\-") -eq 1 ]; then
             option_error "$real_opt requires a $required_arg argument"
             continue
          fi
          val="$opt"
          opt_is_ok=1
       else
-         if [ $(expr "$opt" : "-") -eq 0 ]; then
+         if [ $(expr "$opt" : "\-") -eq 0 ]; then
             if [ -z "$ARGV" ]; then
                ARGV="$opt"
             else
diff --git a/lib/bash/collect_mysql_info.sh b/lib/bash/collect_mysql_info.sh
index df4bddcd..e99295f4 100644
--- a/lib/bash/collect_mysql_info.sh
+++ b/lib/bash/collect_mysql_info.sh
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ collect_mysqld_instances () {
          echo "internal::oom_of_$pid    $oom" >> "$variables_file"
       done
 
-      pids="$pids"
       pids="$(echo $pids | sed -e 's/ /,/g')"
       ps ww -p "$pids" 2>/dev/null
    else
@@ -201,8 +200,13 @@ get_mysqldump_args () {
 collect_mysqld_executables () {
    local mysqld_instances="$1"
 
+   local ps_opt="cmd="
+   if [ "$(uname -s)" = "Darwin" ]; then
+      ps_opt="command="
+   fi
+
    for pid in $( grep '/mysqld' "$mysqld_instances" | awk '/^.*[0-9]/{print $1}' ); do
-      ps -o cmd -p $pid | sed -e 's/^\(.*mysqld\) .*/\1/' | grep -v '^CMD$'
+      ps -o $ps_opt -p $pid | sed -e 's/^\(.*mysqld\) .*/\1/'
    done | sort -u
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/bash/mysql_options.sh b/lib/bash/mysql_options.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..755b348e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/bash/mysql_options.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+# This program is copyright 2011 Percona Inc.
+# Feedback and improvements are welcome.
+#
+# THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
+# WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+# MERCHANTIBILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+#
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under
+# the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
+# Foundation, version 2; OR the Perl Artistic License.  On UNIX and similar
+# systems, you can issue `man perlgpl' or `man perlartistic' to read these
+# licenses.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with
+# this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple
+# Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA.
+# ###########################################################################
+# mysql_options package
+# ###########################################################################
+
+# Package: mysql_options
+# Handle --defaults-file & related options
+
+set -u
+
+mysql_options() {
+   local MYSQL_ARGS=""
+   if [ -n "$OPT_DEFAULTS_FILE" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="--defaults-file=$OPT_DEFAULTS_FILE"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_PORT" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --port=$OPT_PORT"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_SOCKET" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --socket=$OPT_SOCKET"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_HOST" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --host=$OPT_HOST"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_USER" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --user='$OPT_USER'"
+   fi
+   if [ -n "$OPT_PASSWORD" ]; then
+      MYSQL_ARGS="$MYSQL_ARGS --password='$OPT_PASSWORD'"
+   fi
+   
+   echo $MYSQL_ARGS
+}
+
+# ###########################################################################
+# End mysql_options package
+# ###########################################################################
diff --git a/lib/bash/parse_options.sh b/lib/bash/parse_options.sh
index e479ad66..c2dbcce5 100644
--- a/lib/bash/parse_options.sh
+++ b/lib/bash/parse_options.sh
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ _parse_command_line() {
 
       if [ "$next_opt_is_val" ]; then
          next_opt_is_val=""
-         if [ $# -eq 0 ] || [ $(expr "$opt" : "-") -eq 1 ]; then
+         if [ $# -eq 0 ] || [ $(expr "$opt" : "\-") -eq 1 ]; then
             option_error "$real_opt requires a $required_arg argument"
             continue
          fi
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ _parse_command_line() {
          opt_is_ok=1
       else
          # If option does not begin with a hyphen (-), it's a filename, etc.
-         if [ $(expr "$opt" : "-") -eq 0 ]; then
+         if [ $(expr "$opt" : "\-") -eq 0 ]; then
             if [ -z "$ARGV" ]; then
                ARGV="$opt"
             else
diff --git a/lib/bash/report_mysql_info.sh b/lib/bash/report_mysql_info.sh
index eb3749c6..09fee8db 100644
--- a/lib/bash/report_mysql_info.sh
+++ b/lib/bash/report_mysql_info.sh
@@ -1489,6 +1489,7 @@ report_mysql_summary () {
    # ########################################################################
    section "Configuration File"
    local cnf_file="$(get_var "pt-summary-internal-Config_File_path" "$dir/mysql-variables")"
+
    if [ -n "${cnf_file}" ]; then
       name_val "Config File" "${cnf_file}"
       pretty_print_cnf_file "$dir/mysql-config-file"
diff --git a/t/lib/bash/mysql_options.sh b/t/lib/bash/mysql_options.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2d966ce7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/lib/bash/mysql_options.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+plan 3
+
+TMPFILE="$TEST_PT_TMPDIR/parse-opts-output"
+TOOL="pt-mysql-summary"
+PT_TMPDIR="$TEST_PT_TMPDIR"
+
+source "$LIB_DIR/log_warn_die.sh"
+source "$LIB_DIR/parse_options.sh"
+source "$LIB_DIR/mysql_options.sh"
+
+cnf="/tmp/12345/my.sandbox.cnf"
+
+parse_options "$PERCONA_TOOLKIT_BRANCH/bin/pt-mysql-summary" --defaults-file $cnf
+is "$OPT_DEFAULTS_FILE" "$cnf" "--defaults-file works"
+
+# ############################################################################
+# --host's default works
+# ############################################################################
+
+parse_options "$PERCONA_TOOLKIT_BRANCH/bin/pt-mysql-summary"
+is "$OPT_HOST" "localhost" "--host has default: localhost"
+
+# ############################################################################
+# Short forms work
+# ############################################################################
+
+parse_options "$PERCONA_TOOLKIT_BRANCH/bin/pt-mysql-summary" -F $cnf
+is "$OPT_DEFAULTS_FILE" "$cnf" "-F works"
+
+# ############################################################################
+# Done
+# ############################################################################
diff --git a/t/lib/bash/mysql_options.t b/t/lib/bash/mysql_options.t
new file mode 120000
index 00000000..edb04c13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/lib/bash/mysql_options.t
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../../../util/test-bash-functions
\ No newline at end of file