diff --git a/src/flake8/main/application.py b/src/flake8/main/application.py
index 001ad6c..e4b7930 100644
--- a/src/flake8/main/application.py
+++ b/src/flake8/main/application.py
@@ -112,7 +112,12 @@ class Application(object):
         :rtype:
             (argparse.Namespace, list)
         """
-        return self.prelim_arg_parser.parse_known_args(argv)
+        args, rest = self.prelim_arg_parser.parse_known_args(argv)
+        # XXX (ericvw): Special case "forwarding" the output file option so
+        # that it can be reparsed again for the BaseFormatter.filename.
+        if args.output_file:
+            rest.extend(("--output-file", args.output_file))
+        return args, rest
 
     def exit(self):
         # type: () -> None
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_main.py b/tests/integration/test_main.py
index b67992b..54254ef 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_main.py
@@ -246,3 +246,17 @@ def test_file_not_found(tmpdir, capsys):
     out, err = capsys.readouterr()
     assert out.startswith("i-do-not-exist:0:1: E902")
     assert err == ""
+
+
+def test_output_file(tmpdir, capsys):
+    """Ensure that --output-file is honored."""
+    tmpdir.join('t.py').write('import os\n')
+
+    with tmpdir.as_cwd():
+        _call_main(['t.py', '--output-file=f'], retv=1)
+
+    out, err = capsys.readouterr()
+    assert out == err == ""
+
+    expected = "t.py:1:1: F401 'os' imported but unused\n"
+    assert tmpdir.join('f').read() == expected