diff --git a/top/top.1 b/top/top.1
index 9f86cb0c..bce1e00f 100644
--- a/top/top.1
+++ b/top/top.1
@@ -306,6 +306,9 @@ produce before ending.
 \-\fBo\fR :\fI Override-sort-field\fR as:\fB\ \ \-o fieldname \fR
 Specifies the name of the field on which tasks will be sorted, independent
 of what is reflected in the configuration file.
+You can prepend a '+' or '\-' to the field name to also override the sort direction.
+A leading '+' will force sorting high to low, whereas a '\-' will ensure a low to high
+ordering.
 
 This option exists primarily to support automated/scripted batch mode
 operation.
diff --git a/top/top.c b/top/top.c
index e1715d7b..c17d93fc 100644
--- a/top/top.c
+++ b/top/top.c
@@ -3291,6 +3291,8 @@ static void parse_args (char **args) {
                if (cp[1]) cp++;
                else if (*args) cp = *args++;
                else error_exit(fmtmk(N_fmt(MISSING_args_fmt), ch));
+               if (*cp == '+') { SETw(Curwin, Qsrt_NORMAL); ++cp; }
+               else if (*cp == '-') { OFFw(Curwin, Qsrt_NORMAL); ++cp; }
                for (i = 0; i < P_MAXPFLGS; i++)
                   if (!STRCMP(cp, N_col(i))) break;
                if (i == P_MAXPFLGS)