diff --git a/sql/mysqld.cc b/sql/mysqld.cc
index fd092a6c20b..7721939f491 100644
--- a/sql/mysqld.cc
+++ b/sql/mysqld.cc
@@ -3276,6 +3276,9 @@ struct my_option my_long_options[] =
   {"skip-locking", OPT_SKIP_LOCK,
    "Depricated option, use --skip-external-locking instead",
    0, 0, 0, GET_NO_ARG, NO_ARG, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+  {"skip-external-locking", OPT_SKIP_LOCK, "Do not use system (external) locking",
+   (gptr*) &opt_external_locking, (gptr*) &opt_external_locking,
+   0, GET_NO_ARG, NO_ARG, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
   {"skip-host-cache", OPT_SKIP_HOST_CACHE, "Don't cache host names", 0, 0, 0,
    GET_NO_ARG, NO_ARG, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
   {"skip-name-resolve", OPT_SKIP_RESOLVE,