diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5f20d9a..3a73f9a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ build changes its shape, delete it and run `money import` again.
 
 Checked in order, first one wins:
 
-1. `--root DIR` on the command line
+1. `--root DIR` on the command line, before or after the command
 2. `$MONEY_ROOT`
 3. the `root` key in `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/money/config.toml`, which is
    `~/.config/money/config.toml` unless `XDG_CONFIG_HOME` says otherwise
diff --git a/cmd/money/main.go b/cmd/money/main.go
index e2937df..11ad965 100644
--- a/cmd/money/main.go
+++ b/cmd/money/main.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import (
 
 const usage = `money - statement-driven personal finance tracker
 
-usage: money [--root DIR] <command> [flags]
+usage: money [--root DIR] <command> [flags]   (--root may also follow the command)
 
 commands:
   tui                  browse transactions, build the rules that tag them and the
@@ -88,6 +88,17 @@ func run(args []string) error {
 		cmd, args = args[0], args[1:]
 	}
 
+	// `money serve --root DIR` is too natural to reject, so --root is also
+	// accepted after the subcommand; each subcommand's own flag set never
+	// sees it.
+	after, args, err := takeRoot(args)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if after != "" {
+		root = after
+	}
+
 	abs, source, err := config.ResolveRoot(root)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -486,6 +497,38 @@ func cmdTUI(root string, _ []string) error {
 	return tui.Run(root, o.db, o.accounts, o.engine, o.links)
 }
 
+// takeRoot removes --root/-root (as `--root DIR` or `--root=DIR`) from a
+// subcommand's arguments, returning the last value given. It stops at `--`,
+// after which everything is positional.
+func takeRoot(args []string) (root string, rest []string, err error) {
+	rest = make([]string, 0, len(args))
+	for i := 0; i < len(args); i++ {
+		a := args[i]
+		if a == "--" {
+			return root, append(rest, args[i:]...), nil
+		}
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(a, "-") {
+			rest = append(rest, a)
+			continue
+		}
+		name, inline, hasInline := strings.Cut(strings.TrimLeft(a, "-"), "=")
+		if name != "root" {
+			rest = append(rest, a)
+			continue
+		}
+		if hasInline {
+			root = inline
+			continue
+		}
+		if i+1 >= len(args) {
+			return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("--root needs a directory")
+		}
+		root = args[i+1]
+		i++
+	}
+	return root, rest, nil
+}
+
 // cmdServe serves the TUI's screens over HTTP until interrupted. There is no
 // authentication, so it listens on loopback unless told otherwise: anyone who
 // can reach the port can rewrite rules.toml and start an import.
diff --git a/cmd/money/main_test.go b/cmd/money/main_test.go
index c180f15..aad4218 100644
--- a/cmd/money/main_test.go
+++ b/cmd/money/main_test.go
@@ -84,3 +84,27 @@ func TestUniqLimitReportsWhatItHeldBack(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("want the first row alphabetically:\n%s", out)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestRootAfterTheSubcommand(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		args []string
+		root string
+		rest []string
+	}{
+		{[]string{"--root", "/r", "--addr", ":9"}, "/r", []string{"--addr", ":9"}},
+		{[]string{"--addr", ":9", "-root=/r"}, "/r", []string{"--addr", ":9"}},
+		{[]string{"--untagged"}, "", []string{"--untagged"}},
+		{[]string{"--", "--root", "/r"}, "", []string{"--", "--root", "/r"}},
+	} {
+		root, rest, err := takeRoot(tc.args)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%q: %v", tc.args, err)
+		}
+		if root != tc.root || strings.Join(rest, " ") != strings.Join(tc.rest, " ") {
+			t.Errorf("%q: got %q %q, want %q %q", tc.args, root, rest, tc.root, tc.rest)
+		}
+	}
+	if _, _, err := takeRoot([]string{"--root"}); err == nil {
+		t.Error("--root without a directory was accepted")
+	}
+}