diff --git a/ale_linters/proto/protoc_gen_lint.vim b/ale_linters/proto/protoc_gen_lint.vim
index 9d5ceac..c8b5c33 100644
--- a/ale_linters/proto/protoc_gen_lint.vim
+++ b/ale_linters/proto/protoc_gen_lint.vim
@@ -1,12 +1,20 @@
 " Author: Jeff Willette <jrwillette88@gmail.com>
 " Description: run the protoc-gen-lint plugin for the protoc binary
 
+call ale#Set('proto_protoc_gen_lint_options', '')
+
 function! ale_linters#proto#protoc_gen_lint#GetCommand(buffer) abort
     let l:dirname = expand('#' . a:buffer . ':p:h')
 
-    return 'protoc'
-    \   . ' -I ' . ale#Escape(l:dirname)
-    \   . ' --lint_out=. ' . '%s'
+    let l:options = ['-I ' . ale#Escape(l:dirname)]
+
+    if !empty(ale#Var(a:buffer, 'proto_protoc_gen_lint_options'))
+        let l:options += [ale#Var(a:buffer, 'proto_protoc_gen_lint_options')]
+    endif
+
+    let l:options += ['--lint_out=. ' . '%s']
+
+    return 'protoc' . ' ' . join(l:options)
 endfunction
 
 call ale#linter#Define('proto', {
diff --git a/doc/ale-proto.txt b/doc/ale-proto.txt
index 6a25638..734e23d 100644
--- a/doc/ale-proto.txt
+++ b/doc/ale-proto.txt
@@ -20,5 +20,14 @@ protoc-gen-lint                                      *ale-proto-protoc-gen-lint*
   The linter is a plugin for the `protoc` binary. As long as the binary resides
   in the system path, `protoc` will find it.
 
+g:ale_proto_protoc_gen_lint_options       *g:ale_proto_protoc_gen_lint_options*
+
+  Type: |String|
+  Default: `''`
+
+  This variable can be changed to modify flags given to protoc. Note that the
+  directory of the linted file is always passed as an include path with '-I'
+  before any user-supplied options.
+
 ===============================================================================
   vim:tw=78:ts=2:sts=2:sw=2:ft=help:norl:
diff --git a/test/command_callback/test_proto_command_callback.vader b/test/command_callback/test_proto_command_callback.vader
index 79c1cf8..76050c6 100644
--- a/test/command_callback/test_proto_command_callback.vader
+++ b/test/command_callback/test_proto_command_callback.vader
@@ -4,9 +4,18 @@ Before:
 After:
   Restore
 
+  unlet! b:ale_proto_protoc_gen_lint_options
+
   call ale#linter#Reset()
 
 Execute(The default command should be correct):
   AssertEqual
   \ 'protoc' . ' -I ' . ale#Escape(getcwd()) . ' --lint_out=. ' . '%s',
   \ ale_linters#proto#protoc_gen_lint#GetCommand(bufnr(''))
+
+Execute(The callback should include any additional options):
+  let b:ale_proto_protoc_gen_lint_options = '--some-option'
+
+  AssertEqual
+  \ 'protoc' . ' -I ' . ale#Escape(getcwd()) . ' --some-option --lint_out=. ' . '%s',
+  \ ale_linters#proto#protoc_gen_lint#GetCommand(bufnr(''))