diff --git a/examples/training/train_textcat.py b/examples/training/train_textcat.py
index bd9e5ee18..c678632cd 100644
--- a/examples/training/train_textcat.py
+++ b/examples/training/train_textcat.py
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ from spacy.util import minibatch, compounding
     output_dir=("Optional output directory", "option", "o", Path),
     n_texts=("Number of texts to train from", "option", "t", int),
     n_iter=("Number of training iterations", "option", "n", int),
+    init_tok2vec=("Pretrained tok2vec weights", "option", "t2v", Path)
 )
-def main(model=None, output_dir=None, n_iter=20, n_texts=2000):
+def main(model=None, output_dir=None, n_iter=20, n_texts=2000, init_tok2vec=None):
     if output_dir is not None:
         output_dir = Path(output_dir)
         if not output_dir.exists():
@@ -67,6 +68,9 @@ def main(model=None, output_dir=None, n_iter=20, n_texts=2000):
     other_pipes = [pipe for pipe in nlp.pipe_names if pipe != "textcat"]
     with nlp.disable_pipes(*other_pipes):  # only train textcat
         optimizer = nlp.begin_training()
+        if init_tok2vec is not None:
+            with init_tok2vec.open("rb") as file_:
+                textcat.model.tok2vec.from_bytes(file_.read())
         print("Training the model...")
         print("{:^5}\t{:^5}\t{:^5}\t{:^5}".format("LOSS", "P", "R", "F"))
         for i in range(n_iter):