diff --git a/secondary.py b/secondary.py
index 632be0efec9d86fd15038a1c71d02acc95d76625..f519bfa27cc1edb6d9d2a1411c6673cb41cfde7b 100644
--- a/secondary.py
+++ b/secondary.py
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ def do_backup(hash_name, options, socket_path, mount, path):
     cmd = ( command.Command('/usr/bin/hashtoc')
             .flag('--%s' % hash_name)
             .flag('--zero-terminated')
+            .flag('--xattr', options.xattr)
             .option('--max-age', options.max_age)
             .option('--jobs', options.jobs)
             .option('--lookahead', options.lookahead)