diff --git a/dev-support/bin/create-release b/dev-support/bin/create-release
index 30ced9b..2f296e6 100755
--- a/dev-support/bin/create-release
+++ b/dev-support/bin/create-release
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ function usage
   echo "--security              Emergency security release"
   echo "--sign                  Use .gnupg dir to sign the artifacts and jars"
   echo "--version=[version]     Use an alternative version string"
+  echo "--mvnargs=[args]        Extra Maven args to be provided when running mvn commands"
 }
 
 function option_parse
@@ -291,6 +292,9 @@ function option_parse
       --version=*)
         HADOOP_THIRDPARTY_VERSION=${i#*=}
       ;;
+      --mvnargs=*)
+        MVNEXTRAARGS=${i#*=}
+      ;;
     esac
   done
 
@@ -358,6 +362,10 @@ function option_parse
     fi
   fi
 
+  if [ -n "$MVNEXTRAARGS" ]; then
+    MVN_ARGS+=("$MVNEXTRAARGS")
+  fi
+
   if [[ "${SECURITYRELEASE}" = true ]]; then
     if [[ ! -d "${BASEDIR}/src/site/markdown/release/${HADOOP_THIRDPARTY_VERSION}" ]]; then
       hadoop_error "ERROR: ${BASEDIR}/src/site/markdown/release/${HADOOP_THIRDPARTY_VERSION} does not exist."