diff --git a/aider/coder.py b/aider/coder.py
index 1f72cf288..8515ef962 100755
--- a/aider/coder.py
+++ b/aider/coder.py
@@ -28,12 +28,13 @@ class Coder:
     last_aider_commit_hash = None
     last_asked_for_commit_time = 0
 
-    def __init__(self, main_model, fnames, pretty, show_diffs, auto_commits, io):
+    def __init__(self, main_model, fnames, pretty, show_diffs, auto_commits, io, dry_run):
         self.abs_fnames = set()
 
         self.io = io
 
         self.auto_commits = auto_commits
+        self.dry_run = dry_run
 
         if pretty:
             self.console = Console()
diff --git a/aider/main.py b/aider/main.py
index 8f5b5679e..0b91ad260 100644
--- a/aider/main.py
+++ b/aider/main.py
@@ -69,6 +69,12 @@ def main(args=None, input=None, output=None):
         help=f"Disable auto commit of changes (${env_prefix}AUTO_COMMITS)",
         default=bool(int(os.environ.get(f"{env_prefix}AUTO_COMMITS", 1))),
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--dry-run",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Perform a dry run without applying changes (default: False)",
+        default=False,
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--show-diffs",
         action="store_true",
@@ -101,6 +107,7 @@ def main(args=None, input=None, output=None):
         args.show_diffs,
         args.auto_commits,
         io,
+        args.dry_run,
     )
     if args.auto_commits:
         coder.commit(ask=True, prefix="wip: ", which="repo_files")