diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index f73b4b8f..c5a81627 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+1.1.4
+
+ * #17: Added command-line flags for performing a borgmatic run with only pruning, creating, or
+   checking enabled. This supports use cases like running consistency checks from a different cron
+   job with a different frequency, or running pruning with a different verbosity level.
+
 1.1.3
 
  * #14: Support for running multiple config files in /etc/borgmatic.d/ from a single borgmatic run.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8ea9a892..c15e826a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ to remove anything you don't need.
 ### Multiple configuration files
 
 A more advanced usage is to create multiple separate configuration files and
-place each one in a /etc/borgmatic.d directory. For instance:
+place each one in an /etc/borgmatic.d directory. For instance:
 
     sudo mkdir /etc/borgmatic.d
     sudo generate-borgmatic-config --destination /etc/borgmatic.d/app1.yaml
@@ -175,6 +175,12 @@ arguments:
 This will also prune any old backups as per the configured retention policy,
 and check backups for consistency problems due to things like file damage.
 
+If you'd like to see the available command-line arguments, view the help:
+
+    borgmatic --help
+
+### Verbosity
+
 By default, the backup will proceed silently except in the case of errors. But
 if you'd like to to get additional information about the progress of the
 backup as it proceeds, use the verbosity option:
@@ -185,9 +191,19 @@ Or, for even more progress spew:
 
     borgmatic --verbosity 2
 
-If you'd like to see the available command-line arguments, view the help:
+### À la carte
 
-    borgmatic --help
+If you want to run borgmatic with only pruning, creating, or checking enabled,
+the following optional flags are available:
+
+    borgmatic --prune
+    borgmatic --create
+    borgmatic --check
+
+You can run with only one of these flags provided, or you can mix and match
+any number of them. This supports use cases like running consistency checks
+from a different cron job with a different frequency, or running pruning with
+a different verbosity level.
 
 
 ## Autopilot
diff --git a/borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py b/borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py
index a26c30cd..c5c7a28d 100644
--- a/borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py
+++ b/borgmatic/commands/borgmatic.py
@@ -18,7 +18,14 @@ def parse_arguments(*arguments):
     Given command-line arguments with which this script was invoked, parse the arguments and return
     them as an ArgumentParser instance.
     '''
-    parser = ArgumentParser()
+    parser = ArgumentParser(
+        description=
+            '''
+            A simple wrapper script for the Borg backup software that creates and prunes backups.
+            If none of the --prune, --create, or --check options are given, then borgmatic defaults
+            to all three: prune, create, and check archives.
+            '''
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         '-c', '--config',
         nargs='+',
@@ -29,7 +36,25 @@ def parse_arguments(*arguments):
     parser.add_argument(
         '--excludes',
         dest='excludes_filename',
-        help='Excludes filename, deprecated in favor of exclude_patterns within configuration',
+        help='Deprecated in favor of exclude_patterns within configuration',
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '-p', '--prune',
+        dest='prune',
+        action='store_true',
+        help='Prune archives according to the retention policy',
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '-C', '--create',
+        dest='create',
+        action='store_true',
+        help='Create archives (actually perform backups)',
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        '-k', '--check',
+        dest='check',
+        action='store_true',
+        help='Check archives for consistency',
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         '-v', '--verbosity',
@@ -37,7 +62,17 @@ def parse_arguments(*arguments):
         help='Display verbose progress (1 for some, 2 for lots)',
     )
 
-    return parser.parse_args(arguments)
+    args = parser.parse_args(arguments)
+
+    # If any of the three action flags in the given parse arguments have been explicitly requested,
+    # leave them as-is. Otherwise, assume defaults: Mutate the given arguments to enable all the
+    # actions.
+    if not args.prune and not args.create and not args.check:
+        args.prune = True
+        args.create = True
+        args.check = True
+
+    return args
 
 
 def main():  # pragma: no cover
@@ -60,14 +95,17 @@ def main():  # pragma: no cover
             borg.initialize(storage)
 
             for repository in location['repositories']:
-                borg.prune_archives(args.verbosity, repository, retention, remote_path=remote_path)
-                borg.create_archive(
-                    args.verbosity,
-                    repository,
-                    location,
-                    storage,
-                )
-                borg.check_archives(args.verbosity, repository, consistency, remote_path=remote_path)
+                if args.prune:
+                    borg.prune_archives(args.verbosity, repository, retention, remote_path=remote_path)
+                if args.create:
+                    borg.create_archive(
+                        args.verbosity,
+                        repository,
+                        location,
+                        storage,
+                    )
+                if args.check:
+                    borg.check_archives(args.verbosity, repository, consistency, remote_path=remote_path)
     except (ValueError, OSError, CalledProcessError) as error:
         print(error, file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/borgmatic/tests/integration/commands/test_borgmatic.py b/borgmatic/tests/integration/commands/test_borgmatic.py
index 03343415..2b82ecfb 100644
--- a/borgmatic/tests/integration/commands/test_borgmatic.py
+++ b/borgmatic/tests/integration/commands/test_borgmatic.py
@@ -37,6 +37,30 @@ def test_parse_arguments_with_verbosity_flag_overrides_default():
     assert parser.verbosity == 1
 
 
+def test_parse_arguments_with_no_actions_defaults_to_all_actions_enabled():
+    parser = module.parse_arguments()
+
+    assert parser.prune is True
+    assert parser.create is True
+    assert parser.check is True
+
+
+def test_parse_arguments_with_prune_action_leaves_other_actions_disabled():
+    parser = module.parse_arguments('--prune')
+
+    assert parser.prune is True
+    assert parser.create is False
+    assert parser.check is False
+
+
+def test_parse_arguments_with_multiple_actions_leaves_other_action_disabled():
+    parser = module.parse_arguments('--create', '--check')
+
+    assert parser.prune is False
+    assert parser.create is True
+    assert parser.check is True
+
+
 def test_parse_arguments_with_invalid_arguments_exits():
     with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
         module.parse_arguments('--posix-me-harder')
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 7831a3ec..d4f587b3 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from setuptools import setup, find_packages
 
 
-VERSION = '1.1.3'
+VERSION = '1.1.4'
 
 
 setup(