diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 53ede1235..72ce154ed 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/2.0.0/),
 
 ### Added
 
+- Add overriding option N_active, from [@ilhamv]
+
 ### Changed
 
 - Show previously published documentation versions in the documentation version switcher, from [@ilhamv]
diff --git a/mcdc/config.py b/mcdc/config.py
index ec42c2db7..d841ea567 100644
--- a/mcdc/config.py
+++ b/mcdc/config.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ def _build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     # Simulation-setting overrides
     parser.add_argument("--N_particle", type=int, help="Number of particles")
     parser.add_argument("--N_batch", type=int, help="Number of batches")
+    parser.add_argument("--N_active", type=int, help="Number of active cycles")
     parser.add_argument("--output", type=str, help="Output file name")
     parser.add_argument("--progress_bar", default=True, action="store_true")
     parser.add_argument("--no-progress_bar", dest="progress_bar", action="store_false")
@@ -133,6 +134,9 @@ def set_setting(name, value):
     # These command-line options directly replace public Simulation settings.
     set_setting("N_particle", args.N_particle)
     set_setting("N_batch", args.N_batch)
+    if args.N_active is not None:
+        set_setting("N_active", args.N_active)
+        set_setting("N_cycle", settings.N_inactive + settings.N_active)
     set_setting("output_name", args.output)
     set_setting("use_progress_bar", args.progress_bar)
 
diff --git a/test/unit/test_config.py b/test/unit/test_config.py
index 74636bdd6..547499d75 100644
--- a/test/unit/test_config.py
+++ b/test/unit/test_config.py
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@
 from mcdc.config import _build_parser, override_settings
 
 
+def test_parser_accepts_active_cycle_override():
+    args = _build_parser().parse_args(["--N_active", "25"])
+
+    assert args.N_active == 25
+
+
 class SingleRankCommunicator:
     def __init__(self, size=1):
         self.size = size
@@ -105,6 +111,7 @@ def test_compilation_applies_command_line_overrides(monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setattr(config, "target", "cpu")
     monkeypatch.setattr(config.args, "N_particle", 100)
     monkeypatch.setattr(config.args, "N_batch", None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config.args, "N_active", None)
     monkeypatch.setattr(config.args, "output", None)
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         config.args, "progress_bar", simulation.settings.use_progress_bar
@@ -114,3 +121,21 @@ def test_compilation_applies_command_line_overrides(monkeypatch):
 
     assert simulation.settings.N_particle == 100
     assert not override_settings(simulation)
+
+
+def test_active_cycle_override_updates_total_cycles(monkeypatch):
+    simulation = mcdc.Simulation()
+    simulation.settings.set_eigenmode(N_inactive=5, N_active=10)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config, "target", "cpu")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config.args, "N_particle", None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config.args, "N_batch", None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config.args, "N_active", 25)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config.args, "output", None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        config.args, "progress_bar", simulation.settings.use_progress_bar
+    )
+
+    assert override_settings(simulation)
+    assert simulation.settings.N_active == 25
+    assert simulation.settings.N_cycle == 30