diff --git a/ocrd/ocrd/lib.bash b/ocrd/ocrd/lib.bash
index 2cbf3c915a..80160f1a94 100644
--- a/ocrd/ocrd/lib.bash
+++ b/ocrd/ocrd/lib.bash
@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ ocrd__parse_argv () {
     fi
 
     ocrd__argv[overwrite]=false
+    ocrd__argv[profile]=false
+    ocrd__argv[profile_file]=
     ocrd__argv[mets_file]="$PWD/mets.xml"
 
     local __parameters=()
@@ -127,6 +129,7 @@ ocrd__parse_argv () {
             -l|--log-level) ocrd__argv[log_level]=$2 ; shift ;;
             -h|--help|--usage) ocrd__usage; exit ;;
             -J|--dump-json) ocrd__dumpjson; exit ;;
+            -D|--dump-module-dir) echo $(dirname "$OCRD_TOOL_JSON"); exit ;;
             -C|--show-resource) ocrd__show_resource "$2"; exit ;;
             -L|--list-resources) ocrd__list_resources; exit ;;
             -p|--parameter) __parameters+=(-p "$2") ; shift ;;
@@ -137,6 +140,8 @@ ocrd__parse_argv () {
             -w|--working-dir) ocrd__argv[working_dir]=$(realpath "$2") ; shift ;;
             -m|--mets) ocrd__argv[mets_file]=$(realpath "$2") ; shift ;;
             --overwrite) ocrd__argv[overwrite]=true ;;
+            --profile) ocrd__argv[profile]=true ;;
+            --profile-file) ocrd__argv[profile_file]=$(realpath "$2") ; shift ;;
             -V|--version) ocrd ocrd-tool "$OCRD_TOOL_JSON" version; exit ;;
             *) ocrd__raise "Unknown option '$1'" ;;
         esac
@@ -163,6 +168,24 @@ ocrd__parse_argv () {
         ocrd__raise "Provide --output-file-grp/-O explicitly!"
     fi
 
+    # enable profiling (to be extended/acted upon by caller)
+    if [[ ${ocrd__argv[profile]} = true ]];then
+        if [[ -n "${ocrd__argv[profile_file]}" ]];then
+            exec 3> "${ocrd__argv[profile_file]}"
+        else
+            exec 3>&2
+        fi
+        BASH_XTRACEFD=3
+        # just the builtin tracer (without timing):
+        #set -x
+        # our own (including timing):
+        DEPTH=+++++++++++
+        shopt -s extdebug
+        showtime() { date "+${DEPTH:0:$BASH_SUBSHELL+1} %H:%M:%S $BASH_COMMAND" >&3; }
+        declare +t showtime # no trace here
+        trap showtime DEBUG
+    fi
+
     # check fileGrps
     local _valopts=( --workspace "${ocrd__argv[working_dir]}" --mets-basename "$(basename ${ocrd__argv[mets_file]})" )
     if [[ ${ocrd__argv[overwrite]} = true ]]; then