diff --git a/compiler/globals.py b/compiler/globals.py
index b0a81be5..a40006c2 100644
--- a/compiler/globals.py
+++ b/compiler/globals.py
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@ def parse_args():
         optparse.make_option("-r", "--remove_netlist_trimming", action="store_false", dest="trim_netlist",
                              help="Disable removal of noncritical memory cells during characterization"),
         optparse.make_option("-c", "--characterize", action="store_false", dest="analytical_delay",
-                             help="Perform characterization to calculate delays (default is analytical models)")
+                             help="Perform characterization to calculate delays (default is analytical models)"),
+        optparse.make_option("-d", "--dontpurge", action="store_false", dest="purge_temp",
+                             help="Don't purge the contents of the temp directory after a successful run")
         # -h --help is implicit.
     }
 
@@ -185,6 +187,9 @@ def cleanup_paths():
     """
     We should clean up the temp directory after execution.
     """
+    if not OPTS.purge_temp:
+        debug.info(0,"Preserving temp directory: {}".format(OPTS.openram_temp))
+        return
     if os.path.exists(OPTS.openram_temp):
         shutil.rmtree(OPTS.openram_temp, ignore_errors=True)
             
diff --git a/compiler/options.py b/compiler/options.py
index eff37be2..6393a545 100644
--- a/compiler/options.py
+++ b/compiler/options.py
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ class options(optparse.Values):
     output_name = "sram"
     # Use analytical delay models by default rather than (slow) characterization
     analytical_delay = True
+    # Purge the temp directory after a successful run (doesn't purge on errors, anyhow)
+    purge_temp = True
+    
 
     # These are the default modules that can be over-riden
     decoder = "hierarchical_decoder"
diff --git a/compiler/tests/testutils.py b/compiler/tests/testutils.py
index c7d62071..ced80bb7 100644
--- a/compiler/tests/testutils.py
+++ b/compiler/tests/testutils.py
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ class openram_test(unittest.TestCase):
             self.reset()
             self.fail("LVS mismatch: {}".format(a.name))
 
-        self.cleanup()            
+        if OPTS.purge_temp:
+            self.cleanup()
 
     def cleanup(self):
         """ Reset the duplicate checker and cleanup files. """