diff --git a/kotlin-native/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2Native.kt b/kotlin-native/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2Native.kt
index de0af80ea49..43bab44bd16 100644
--- a/kotlin-native/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2Native.kt
+++ b/kotlin-native/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2Native.kt
@@ -338,6 +338,8 @@ class K2Native : CLICompiler<K2NativeCompilerArguments>() {
                         WorkerExceptionHandling.LEGACY
                     }
                 })
+
+                arguments.externalDependencies?.let { put(EXTERNAL_DEPENDENCIES, it) }
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/kotlin-native/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2NativeCompilerArguments.kt b/kotlin-native/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2NativeCompilerArguments.kt
index 185a782518a..50dcffc68b6 100644
--- a/kotlin-native/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2NativeCompilerArguments.kt
+++ b/kotlin-native/backend.native/cli.bc/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/bc/K2NativeCompilerArguments.kt
@@ -142,6 +142,15 @@ class K2NativeCompilerArguments : CommonCompilerArguments() {
     )
     var exportedLibraries: Array<String>? = null
 
+    @Argument(
+            value = "-Xexternal-dependencies",
+            valueDescription = "<path>",
+            description = "Path to the file containing external dependencies.\n" +
+                    "External dependencies are required for verbose output in case of IR linker errors,\n" +
+                    "but they do not affect compilation at all."
+    )
+    var externalDependencies: String? = null
+
     @Argument(value="-Xfake-override-validator", description = "Enable IR fake override validator")
     var fakeOverrideValidator: Boolean = false
 
diff --git a/kotlin-native/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/KonanConfigurationKeys.kt b/kotlin-native/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/KonanConfigurationKeys.kt
index 921b03679ef..26b16c9a672 100644
--- a/kotlin-native/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/KonanConfigurationKeys.kt
+++ b/kotlin-native/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/KonanConfigurationKeys.kt
@@ -165,6 +165,8 @@ class KonanConfigKeys {
         val PROPERTY_LAZY_INITIALIZATION: CompilerConfigurationKey<Boolean>
                 = CompilerConfigurationKey.create("lazy top level properties initialization")
         val WORKER_EXCEPTION_HANDLING: CompilerConfigurationKey<WorkerExceptionHandling> = CompilerConfigurationKey.create("unhandled exception processing in Worker.executeAfter")
+        val EXTERNAL_DEPENDENCIES: CompilerConfigurationKey<String?> =
+                CompilerConfigurationKey.create("use external dependencies to enhance IR linker error messages")
     }
 }