diff --git a/src/cli.rs b/src/cli.rs
index 69496808..206ebe9d 100644
--- a/src/cli.rs
+++ b/src/cli.rs
@@ -16,10 +16,14 @@ pub struct CliArgs {
     #[structopt(long)]
     pub data_dir: Option<PathBuf>,
 
-    /// Path to a layout yaml file
+    /// Name of a layout yaml file inside the plugin directory
     #[structopt(short, long)]
     pub layout: Option<PathBuf>,
 
+    /// Path to a layout yaml file
+    #[structopt(long, parse(from_os_str))]
+    pub layout_path: Option<PathBuf>,
+
     /// Change where zellij looks for the configuration
     #[structopt(short, long, env=ZELLIJ_CONFIG_FILE_ENV)]
     pub config: Option<PathBuf>,
diff --git a/src/client/layout.rs b/src/client/layout.rs
index 3648ece9..592481dc 100644
--- a/src/client/layout.rs
+++ b/src/client/layout.rs
@@ -190,10 +190,9 @@ pub struct Layout {
 }
 
 impl Layout {
-    pub fn new(layout_path: &Path, data_dir: &Path) -> Self {
-        let layout_dir = data_dir.join("layouts/");
+    pub fn new(layout_path: &Path) -> Self {
         let mut layout_file = File::open(&layout_path)
-            .or_else(|_| File::open(&layout_dir.join(&layout_path).with_extension("yaml")))
+            .or_else(|_| File::open(&layout_path.with_extension("yaml")))
             .unwrap_or_else(|_| panic!("cannot find layout {}", &layout_path.display()));
 
         let mut layout = String::new();
@@ -207,14 +206,8 @@ impl Layout {
 
     // It wants to use Path here, but that doesn't compile.
     #[allow(clippy::ptr_arg)]
-    pub fn from_defaults(layout_path: &PathBuf, data_dir: &Path) -> Self {
-        Self::new(
-            &data_dir
-                .join("layouts/")
-                .join(layout_path)
-                .with_extension("yaml"),
-            &data_dir,
-        )
+    pub fn from_dir(layout: &PathBuf, data_dir: &Path) -> Self {
+        Self::new(&data_dir.join("layouts/").join(layout))
     }
 
     pub fn total_terminal_panes(&self) -> usize {
diff --git a/src/server/mod.rs b/src/server/mod.rs
index a4a79ca0..076d232d 100644
--- a/src/server/mod.rs
+++ b/src/server/mod.rs
@@ -195,10 +195,13 @@ fn init_session(
     let default_layout = Some(PathBuf::from("default"));
     #[cfg(test)]
     let default_layout = None;
+    let layout_path = opts.layout_path;
     let maybe_layout = opts
         .layout
-        .map(|p| Layout::new(&p, &data_dir))
-        .or_else(|| default_layout.map(|p| Layout::from_defaults(&p, &data_dir)));
+        .as_ref()
+        .map(|p| Layout::from_dir(&p, &data_dir))
+        .or_else(|| layout_path.map(|p| Layout::new(&p)))
+        .or_else(|| default_layout.map(|p| Layout::from_dir(&p, &data_dir)));
 
     let pty_thread = thread::Builder::new()
         .name("pty".to_string())
diff --git a/src/tests/integration/layouts.rs b/src/tests/integration/layouts.rs
index bd7ceb3f..f3848461 100644
--- a/src/tests/integration/layouts.rs
+++ b/src/tests/integration/layouts.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ pub fn accepts_basic_layout() {
     let mut fake_input_output = get_fake_os_input(&fake_win_size);
     fake_input_output.add_terminal_input(&[&QUIT]);
     let mut opts = CliArgs::default();
-    opts.layout = Some(PathBuf::from(
+    opts.layout_path = Some(PathBuf::from(
         "src/tests/fixtures/layouts/three-panes-with-nesting.yaml",
     ));