diff --git a/src/man/man8/opnsense-importer.8 b/src/man/man8/opnsense-importer.8
index d5ca0d728..2cbd18d66 100644
--- a/src/man/man8/opnsense-importer.8
+++ b/src/man/man8/opnsense-importer.8
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 .\" OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
 .\" SUCH DAMAGE.
 .\"
-.Dd April 21, 2021
+.Dd December 14, 2021
 .Dt OPNSENSE-IMPORTER 8
 .Os
 .Sh NAME
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 .Nd OPNsense import utility
 .Sh SYNOPSIS
 .Nm
-.Op Fl bpz
+.Op Fl bmpz
 .Op Ar disk
 .Sh DESCRIPTION
 The
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ Run the importer in boot mode, which only triggers the import timeout
 prompt when no current configuration is found in the system.
 This mode is used for install media duties to allow early configuration
 imports to be able to live-boot into them afterwards.
+.It Fl m
+Run the importer in manual shell mode to access the recovered file
+system for custom repairs.
 .It Fl p
 Run the importer in password reset mode, which mounts the disk and
 invokes the builtin root password prompt and after change adjusts
diff --git a/src/sbin/opnsense-importer b/src/sbin/opnsense-importer
index f56d13c44..729720a37 100755
--- a/src/sbin/opnsense-importer
+++ b/src/sbin/opnsense-importer
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 
 INSTALL="/.probe.for.install.media"
 MNT="/tmp/hdrescue"
+SHELL="/bin/sh"
 WAIT="........."
 
 if [ "$(id -u)" != "0" ]; then
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ if [ "$(id -u)" != "0" ]; then
 fi
 
 DO_BOOT=
+DO_MANUAL=
 DO_PASSWORD=
 DO_ZFS=
 
@@ -71,11 +73,14 @@ bootstrap_and_exit()
 	exit "${RET}"
 }
 
-while getopts bpz OPT; do
+while getopts bmpz OPT; do
 	case ${OPT} in
 	b)
 		DO_BOOT="-b"
 		;;
+	m)
+		DO_MANUAL="-m"
+		;;
 	p)
 		DO_PASSWORD="-p"
 		;;
@@ -280,7 +285,10 @@ while : ; do
 		continue
 	fi
 
-	if [ -n "${DO_PASSWORD}" ]; then
+	if [ -n "${DO_MANUAL}" ]; then
+		echo "# Manual shell mode, old file system available at ${MNT}"
+		${SHELL}
+	elif [ -n "${DO_PASSWORD}" ]; then
 		if [ -f "${MNT}/usr/local/sbin/opnsense-shell" ]; then
 			mount -t devfs devfs ${MNT}/dev
 			chroot ${MNT} /bin/sh /etc/rc.d/ldconfig start
@@ -344,7 +352,7 @@ while : ; do
 	fi
 done
 
-if [ -z "${DO_BOOT}" ]; then
+if [ -z "${DO_BOOT}${DO_MANUAL}${DO_PASSWORD}" ]; then
 	echo "Please reboot."
 fi