diff --git a/main.cpp b/main.cpp
index 950c4fa..970e249 100644
--- a/main.cpp
+++ b/main.cpp
@@ -42,22 +42,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	{
 		for (int n=2;n<argc;++n)
 		{
-			if (strcmp(argv[n],"--disable-dumps")==0)
-			{
-				cout << "openEMS - disabling all field dumps" << endl;
-				FDTD.SetEnableDumps(false);
-			}
-			else if (strcmp(argv[n],"--debug-material")==0)
-			{
-				cout << "openEMS - dumping material to 'material_dump.vtk'" << endl;
-				FDTD.DebugMaterial();
-			}
-			else if (strcmp(argv[n],"--debug-operator")==0)
-			{
-				cout << "openEMS - dumping operator to 'operator_dump.vtk'" << endl;
-				FDTD.DebugOperator();
-			}
-			else
+			if (!FDTD.parseCommandLineArgument(argv[n]))
 				cout << "openEMS - unknown argument: " << argv[n] << endl;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/openems.cpp b/openems.cpp
index d5b0247..fe9790e 100644
--- a/openems.cpp
+++ b/openems.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,36 @@ void openEMS::Reset()
 	PA=NULL;
 }
 
+//! \brief processes a command line argument
+//! returns true if argument is known
+//! returns false if argument is unknown
+bool openEMS::parseCommandLineArgument( const char *argv )
+{
+	if (!argv)
+		return false;
+
+	if (strcmp(argv,"--disable-dumps")==0)
+	{
+		cout << "openEMS - disabling all field dumps" << endl;
+		SetEnableDumps(false);
+		return true;
+	}
+	else if (strcmp(argv,"--debug-material")==0)
+	{
+		cout << "openEMS - dumping material to 'material_dump.vtk'" << endl;
+		DebugMaterial();
+		return true;
+	}
+	else if (strcmp(argv,"--debug-operator")==0)
+	{
+		cout << "openEMS - dumping operator to 'operator_dump.vtk'" << endl;
+		DebugOperator();
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	return false;
+}
+
 int openEMS::SetupFDTD(const char* file)
 {
 	if (file==NULL) return -1;
diff --git a/openems.h b/openems.h
index a0fa307..73bc943 100644
--- a/openems.h
+++ b/openems.h
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ public:
     openEMS();
 	~openEMS();
 
+	bool parseCommandLineArgument( const char *argv );
+
 	int SetupFDTD(const char* file);
 
 	void RunFDTD();