diff --git a/bin/cylc-register b/bin/cylc-register
index 976e4db9f3e..187ea68ca84 100755
--- a/bin/cylc-register
+++ b/bin/cylc-register
@@ -67,10 +67,14 @@ def main():
                 ("[PATH]", "Suite definition directory (defaults to $PWD)")])
 
     parser.add_option(
-        "--redirect", help="Allow an existing suite name and run directory "
-                           "to be used with another suite.",
+        "--redirect", help="Allow an existing suite name and run directory"
+                           " to be used with another suite.",
         action="store_true", default=False, dest="redirect")
 
+    parser.add_option(
+        "--run-dir", help="Symlink $HOME/cylc-run/REG to RUNDIR/REG.",
+        action="store", metavar="RUNDIR", default=None, dest="rundir")
+
     opts, args = parser.parse_args()
     if len(args) == 2:
         reg, src = args
@@ -79,7 +83,8 @@ def main():
         src = None
     else:
         reg = src = None
-    SuiteSrvFilesManager().register(reg, src, redirect=opts.redirect)
+    SuiteSrvFilesManager().register(
+        reg, src, redirect=opts.redirect, rundir=opts.rundir)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/lib/cylc/suite_srv_files_mgr.py b/lib/cylc/suite_srv_files_mgr.py
index 3daba5f5c7a..0dd709f68fa 100644
--- a/lib/cylc/suite_srv_files_mgr.py
+++ b/lib/cylc/suite_srv_files_mgr.py
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ def parse_suite_arg(self, options, arg):
                 name = os.path.basename(os.path.dirname(arg))
         return name, path
 
-    def register(self, reg=None, source=None, redirect=False):
+    def register(self, reg=None, source=None, redirect=False, rundir=None):
         """Register a suite, or renew its registration.
 
         Create suite service directory and symlink to suite source location.
@@ -459,7 +459,15 @@ def register(self, reg=None, source=None, redirect=False):
 
         # Create service dir if necessary.
         srv_d = self.get_suite_srv_dir(reg)
-        mkdir_p(srv_d)
+        if rundir is None:
+            mkdir_p(srv_d)
+        else:
+            suite_run_d, srv_d_name = os.path.split(srv_d)
+            alt_suite_run_d = os.path.join(rundir, reg)
+            alt_srv_d = os.path.join(rundir, reg, srv_d_name)
+            mkdir_p(alt_srv_d)
+            mkdir_p(os.path.dirname(suite_run_d))
+            os.symlink(alt_suite_run_d, suite_run_d)
 
         # See if suite already has a source or not
         try: