diff --git a/doc/manual/command-ref/nix-store.xml b/doc/manual/command-ref/nix-store.xml
index 41a04f265..d73cb92ee 100644
--- a/doc/manual/command-ref/nix-store.xml
+++ b/doc/manual/command-ref/nix-store.xml
@@ -1282,6 +1282,7 @@ ktorrent-2.2.1/NEWS
   <cmdsynopsis>
     <command>nix-store</command>
     <arg choice='plain'><option>--dump-db</option></arg>
+    <arg rep='repeat'><replaceable>paths</replaceable></arg>
   </cmdsynopsis>
 </refsection>
 
@@ -1292,6 +1293,13 @@ Nix database to standard output.  It can be loaded into an empty Nix
 store using <option>--load-db</option>.  This is useful for making
 backups and when migrating to different database schemas.</para>
 
+<para>By default, <option>--dump-db</option> will dump the entire Nix
+database.  When one or more store paths is passed, only the subset of
+the Nix database for those store paths is dumped.  As with
+<option>--export</option>, the user is responsible for passing all the
+store paths for a closure.  See <option>--export</option> for an
+example.</para>
+
 </refsection>
 
 </refsection>
diff --git a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index a9ad14762..33138baff 100644
--- a/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -485,11 +485,16 @@ static void opReadLog(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
 static void opDumpDB(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
 {
     if (!opFlags.empty()) throw UsageError("unknown flag");
-    if (!opArgs.empty())
-        throw UsageError("no arguments expected");
-    PathSet validPaths = store->queryAllValidPaths();
-    for (auto & i : validPaths)
-        cout << store->makeValidityRegistration({i}, true, true);
+    if (!opArgs.empty()) {
+        for (auto & i : opArgs)
+            i = store->followLinksToStorePath(i);
+        for (auto & i : opArgs)
+            cout << store->makeValidityRegistration({i}, true, true);
+    } else {
+        PathSet validPaths = store->queryAllValidPaths();
+        for (auto & i : validPaths)
+            cout << store->makeValidityRegistration({i}, true, true);
+    }
 }