diff --git a/src/include/ngspice/optdefs.h b/src/include/ngspice/optdefs.h
index a39f57b23..6e8a5549f 100644
--- a/src/include/ngspice/optdefs.h
+++ b/src/include/ngspice/optdefs.h
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ enum {
 
 #ifdef KLU
     OPT_SPARSE,
+    OPT_KLU,
     OPT_KLU_MEMGROW_FACTOR,
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/spicelib/analysis/cktntask.c b/src/spicelib/analysis/cktntask.c
index 2ad44e3b0..be681b2b6 100644
--- a/src/spicelib/analysis/cktntask.c
+++ b/src/spicelib/analysis/cktntask.c
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ CKTnewTask(CKTcircuit *ckt, TSKtask **taskPtr, IFuid taskName, TSKtask **defPtr)
         tsk->TSKepsmin          = 1e-28;
 
 #ifdef KLU
-        tsk->TSKkluMODE         = CKTkluON;
+        tsk->TSKkluMODE         = CKTkluOFF;
         tsk->TSKkluMemGrowFactor = 1.2 ;
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/spicelib/analysis/cktsopt.c b/src/spicelib/analysis/cktsopt.c
index d69e878f5..0c1f723e1 100644
--- a/src/spicelib/analysis/cktsopt.c
+++ b/src/spicelib/analysis/cktsopt.c
@@ -180,7 +180,9 @@ CKTsetOpt(CKTcircuit *ckt, JOB *anal, int opt, IFvalue *val)
     case OPT_SPARSE:
         task->TSKkluMODE = (val->iValue == 0);
         break;
-
+    case OPT_KLU:
+        task->TSKkluMODE = (val->iValue != 0);
+        break;
     case OPT_KLU_MEMGROW_FACTOR:
         task->TSKkluMemGrowFactor = (val->rValue == 1.2);
         break;
@@ -348,6 +350,8 @@ static IFparm OPTtbl[] = {
 #ifdef KLU
  { "sparse", OPT_SPARSE, IF_SET|IF_FLAG,
         "Set SPARSE 1.3 as Direct Linear Solver" },
+ { "klu", OPT_KLU, IF_SET|IF_FLAG,
+        "Set KLU as Direct Linear Solver" },
  { "klu_memgrow_factor", OPT_KLU_MEMGROW_FACTOR, IF_SET|IF_REAL,
         "KLU Memory Grow Factor (default is 1.2)" }
 #endif