diff --git a/aider/args.py b/aider/args.py
index 2b18fb6a0..2091a39cd 100644
--- a/aider/args.py
+++ b/aider/args.py
@@ -117,6 +117,12 @@ def get_parser(default_config_files, git_root):
         const=deepseek_model,
         help=f"Use {deepseek_model} model for the main chat",
     )
+    group.add_argument(
+        "--deepseek-beta",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Uses DeepSeek Coder via the beta API endpoint",
+        default=False,
+    )
 
     ##########
     group = parser.add_argument_group("Model Settings")
diff --git a/aider/sendchat.py b/aider/sendchat.py
index 5c0977c1d..06505910c 100644
--- a/aider/sendchat.py
+++ b/aider/sendchat.py
@@ -59,8 +59,11 @@ def send_completion(
         stream=stream,
     )
 
-    if model_name.startswith("deepseek/") and "DEEPSEEK_API_BASE" in os.environ:
-        kwargs["base_url"] = os.environ["DEEPSEEK_API_BASE"]
+    if model_name.startswith("deepseek/"):
+        if "DEEPSEEK_API_BASE" in os.environ:
+            kwargs["base_url"] = os.environ["DEEPSEEK_API_BASE"]
+        elif getattr(kwargs.get('extra_headers', {}), 'deepseek_beta', False):
+            kwargs["base_url"] = "https://api.deepseek.com/v1"
     if functions is not None:
         kwargs["functions"] = functions
     if extra_headers is not None: