diff --git a/pytest_abra/cli.py b/pytest_abra/cli.py
index 2a9c3ae..c26f79f 100644
--- a/pytest_abra/cli.py
+++ b/pytest_abra/cli.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from loguru import logger
 
 from pytest_abra import Coordinator
 from pytest_abra.dir_manager import DirManager
-from pytest_abra.utils import get_datetime_string
+from pytest_abra.utils import get_session_id
 
 
 def run():
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ def run():
     parser.add_argument("--timeout", type=int, help="Set Playwright timeout in ms", default=20_000)
     parser.add_argument("--debug", action="store_true", help="Enable Playwright debug mode")
     parser.add_argument("--resume", action="store_true", help="Re-run the most recent test, skipping passed tests")
+    parser.add_argument("--session_id", help="Session dir name (inside output_dir). Overwrites --resume")
+
     args = parser.parse_args()
     env_paths = [Path(s) for s in args.env_paths.split(";")]
 
@@ -27,11 +29,7 @@ def run():
 
     # ----------------------------- define session_id ---------------------------- #
 
-    session_id = "test-" + get_datetime_string()
-    if args.resume:
-        latest_session_id = DirManager.get_latest_session_id(args.output_dir)
-        if latest_session_id:
-            session_id = DirManager.get_latest_session_id(args.output_dir)
+    session_id = get_session_id(args.session_id, args.resume, args.output_dir)
 
     # ------------------------------- setup logging ------------------------------ #
 
diff --git a/pytest_abra/utils.py b/pytest_abra/utils.py
index b9fcb2d..8171a97 100644
--- a/pytest_abra/utils.py
+++ b/pytest_abra/utils.py
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ from urllib.parse import urlunparse
 
 from loguru import logger
 
+from pytest_abra.dir_manager import DirManager
+
 
 @dataclass
 class BaseUrl:
@@ -64,3 +66,15 @@ def load_json_to_environ(cred_file: Path) -> None:
 
     for key, value in CREDENTIALS.items():
         os.environ[key] = value
+
+
+def get_session_id(args_session_id: str, args_resume: bool, args_output_dir: Path) -> str:
+    """converts the cli arguments to the correct session_id"""
+    session_id = args_session_id
+    if not session_id:
+        session_id = "test-" + get_datetime_string()
+        if args_resume:
+            latest_session_id = DirManager.get_latest_session_id(args_output_dir)
+            if latest_session_id:
+                session_id = latest_session_id
+    return session_id