diff --git a/openpype/cli.py b/openpype/cli.py
index df38c74a21..71f689f159 100644
--- a/openpype/cli.py
+++ b/openpype/cli.py
@@ -132,7 +132,9 @@ def extractenvironments(output_json_path, project, asset, task, app):
 @main.command()
 @click.argument("paths", nargs=-1)
 @click.option("-d", "--debug", is_flag=True, help="Print debug messages")
-def publish(debug, paths):
+@click.option("-t", "--targets", help="Targets module", default=None,
+              multiple=True)
+def publish(debug, paths, targets):
     """Start CLI publishing.
 
     Publish collects json from paths provided as an argument.
@@ -140,7 +142,7 @@ def publish(debug, paths):
     """
     if debug:
         os.environ['OPENPYPE_DEBUG'] = '3'
-    PypeCommands.publish(list(paths))
+    PypeCommands.publish(list(paths), targets)
 
 
 @main.command()
diff --git a/openpype/pype_commands.py b/openpype/pype_commands.py
index 326ca8349a..349c096e2e 100644
--- a/openpype/pype_commands.py
+++ b/openpype/pype_commands.py
@@ -43,16 +43,18 @@ class PypeCommands:
         standalonepublish.main()
 
     @staticmethod
-    def publish(paths):
+    def publish(paths, targets=None):
         """Start headless publishing.
 
         Publish use json from passed paths argument.
 
         Args:
             paths (list): Paths to jsons.
+            targets (string): What module should be targeted
+                (to choose validator for example)
 
         Raises:
-            RuntimeError: When there is no pathto process.
+            RuntimeError: When there is no path to process.
         """
         if not any(paths):
             raise RuntimeError("No publish paths specified")
@@ -79,6 +81,10 @@ class PypeCommands:
         pyblish.api.register_target("filesequence")
         pyblish.api.register_host("shell")
 
+        if targets:
+            for target in targets:
+                pyblish.api.register_target(target)
+
         os.environ["OPENPYPE_PUBLISH_DATA"] = os.pathsep.join(paths)
 
         log.info("Running publish ...")