diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4e5b2b696..13e42bc2c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -203,20 +203,24 @@ or until there are only resources with errors left.
 
 ### AWS Credentials
 
-There are two ways to authenticate *aws-nuke*. There are static credentials and
-profiles. The later one can be configured in the shared credentials file (ie
+There are three ways to authenticate *aws-nuke*. There are static credentials,
+assuming roles and profiles.  The first two methods are passed in at the 
+command line.  The third can be configured in the shared credentials file (ie
 `~/.aws/credentials`) or the shared config file (ie `~/.aws/config`).
 
 To use *static credentials* the command line flags `--access-key-id` and
 `--secret-access-key` are required. The flag `--session-token` is only required
 for temporary sessions.
 
+To use *assumed roles* the command line flag `--assume-role-arn` is required.
+If you rely on a secret 
+[external ID](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_roles_create_for-user_externalid.html) 
+field for your role assumption, you can supply it with the command line flag `--external-id`.
+
 To use *shared profiles* the command line flag `--profile` is required. The
-profile must be either defined with static credentials in the [shared
-credential
-file](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/cli-multiple-profiles.html)
-or in [shared config
-file](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/cli-roles.html) with an
+profile must be either defined with static credentials in the
+[shared credential file](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/cli-multiple-profiles.html)
+or in [shared config file](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/cli-roles.html) with an
 assuming role.
 
 ### Using custom AWS endpoint
diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 627722ac3..8d846cae9 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -122,6 +122,11 @@ func NewRootCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		"AWS IAM role arn to assume. "+
 			"The credentials provided via --access-key-id or --profile must "+
 			"be allowed to assume this role. ")
+	command.PersistentFlags().StringVar(
+		&creds.ExternalId, "external-id", "",
+		"AWS STS External ID parameter. "+
+			"If your assumed role is secured with an External ID string, "+
+			"pass this parameter. ")
 	command.PersistentFlags().StringVar(
 		&defaultRegion, "default-region", "",
 		"Custom default region name.")
diff --git a/pkg/awsutil/session.go b/pkg/awsutil/session.go
index b2bfd2dc8..d414f1032 100644
--- a/pkg/awsutil/session.go
+++ b/pkg/awsutil/session.go
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ type Credentials struct {
 	SecretAccessKey string
 	SessionToken    string
 	AssumeRoleArn   string
+	ExternalId      string
 
 	Credentials *credentials.Credentials
 
@@ -52,6 +53,10 @@ func (c *Credentials) HasAwsCredentials() bool {
 	return c.Credentials != nil
 }
 
+func (c *Credentials) HasExternalId() bool {
+	return strings.TrimSpace(c.ExternalId) != ""
+}
+
 func (c *Credentials) HasKeys() bool {
 	return strings.TrimSpace(c.AccessKeyID) != "" ||
 		strings.TrimSpace(c.SecretAccessKey) != "" ||
@@ -114,7 +119,15 @@ func (c *Credentials) rootSession() (*session.Session, error) {
 
 		// if given a role to assume, overwrite the session credentials with assume role credentials
 		if c.AssumeRoleArn != "" {
-			sess.Config.Credentials = stscreds.NewCredentials(sess, c.AssumeRoleArn)
+			if c.HasExternalId() {
+				log.Debugf("assuming role %s, externalID found", c.AssumeRoleArn)
+				sess.Config.Credentials = stscreds.NewCredentials(sess, c.AssumeRoleArn, func(p *stscreds.AssumeRoleProvider) {
+					p.ExternalID = &c.ExternalId
+				})
+			} else {
+				log.Debugf("assuming role %s with no externalID", c.AssumeRoleArn)
+				sess.Config.Credentials = stscreds.NewCredentials(sess, c.AssumeRoleArn)
+			}
 		}
 
 		c.session = sess