diff --git a/src/pylorax/api/config.py b/src/pylorax/api/config.py
index 79ad6f41..2070a7d4 100644
--- a/src/pylorax/api/config.py
+++ b/src/pylorax/api/config.py
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ def configure(conf_file="/etc/lorax/composer.conf", root_dir="/", test_config=Fa
     conf.set("repos", "use_system_repos", "1")
     conf.set("repos", "enabled", "*")
 
+    conf.add_section("yum")
+
     if not test_config:
         # read the config file
         if os.path.isfile(conf_file):
diff --git a/src/sbin/lorax-composer b/src/sbin/lorax-composer
index 6deecec0..d966b699 100755
--- a/src/sbin/lorax-composer
+++ b/src/sbin/lorax-composer
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ def get_parser():
                          help="Release version to use for $releasever in yum repository urls" )
     parser.add_argument("--tmp", default="/var/tmp",
                         help="Top level temporary directory")
+    parser.add_argument("--proxy", default=None, metavar="PROXY",
+                        help="Set proxy for DNF, overrides configuration file setting.")
     parser.add_argument("BLUEPRINTS", metavar="BLUEPRINTS",
                         help="Path to the blueprints")
 
@@ -226,6 +228,10 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     if opts.sharedir:
         server.config["COMPOSER_CFG"].set("composer", "share_dir", opts.sharedir)
 
+    # Override the config file's DNF proxy setting
+    if opts.proxy:
+        server.config["COMPOSER_CFG"].set("yum", "proxy", opts.proxy)
+
     # Make sure the queue paths are setup correctly, exit on errors
     errors = make_queue_dirs(server.config["COMPOSER_CFG"], gid)
     if errors: