diff --git a/net/dns.c b/net/dns.c
index d241781..ffe98ef 100644
--- a/net/dns.c
+++ b/net/dns.c
@@ -258,20 +258,26 @@
 {
 	IPaddr_t ip;
 	int ret;
-	char *hostname;
+	char *hostname, *varname = NULL;
 
-	if (argc != 2)
+	if (argc < 2)
 		return COMMAND_ERROR_USAGE;
 
 	hostname = argv[1];
 
+	if (argc > 2)
+		varname = argv[2];
+
 	ret = resolv(argv[1], &ip);
 	if (ret) {
 		printf("unknown host %s\n", hostname);
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-	printf("%s is at %pI4\n", hostname, &ip);
+	if (varname)
+		setenv_ip(varname, ip);
+	else
+		printf("%s is at %pI4\n", hostname, &ip);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -279,7 +285,7 @@
 BAREBOX_CMD_START(host)
 	.cmd		= do_host,
 	BAREBOX_CMD_DESC("resolve a hostname")
-	BAREBOX_CMD_OPTS("HOSTNAME")
+	BAREBOX_CMD_OPTS("<HOSTNAME> [VARIABLE]")
 	BAREBOX_CMD_GROUP(CMD_GRP_NET)
 BAREBOX_CMD_END
 #endif