diff --git a/net/init-metrics.sh b/net/init-metrics.sh
index d68e9d7659..26405ab53e 100755
--- a/net/init-metrics.sh
+++ b/net/init-metrics.sh
@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@ usage() {
     echo "Error: $*"
   fi
   cat <<EOF
-usage: $0 [-e] [-d] [username]
+usage: $0 [-e] [-d] [-c database_name] [username]
 
 Creates a testnet dev metrics database
 
   username        InfluxDB user with access to create a new database
+  -c              Manually specify a database to create, rather than read from config file
   -d              Delete the database instead of creating it
   -e              Assume database already exists and SOLANA_METRICS_CONFIG is
                   defined in the environment already
@@ -25,17 +26,20 @@ EOF
   exit $exitcode
 }
 
-loadConfigFile
-
 useEnv=false
 delete=false
+createWithoutConfig=false
 host="https://metrics.solana.com:8086"
-while getopts "hde" opt; do
+while getopts "hdec:" opt; do
   case $opt in
   h|\?)
     usage
     exit 0
     ;;
+  c)
+    createWithoutConfig=true
+    netBasename=$OPTARG
+    ;;
   d)
     delete=true
     ;;
@@ -62,6 +66,10 @@ else
 
   password="$(urlencode "$password")"
 
+  if ! $createWithoutConfig; then
+    loadConfigFile
+  fi
+
   query() {
     echo "$*"
     curl -XPOST \