diff --git a/jrnl/args.py b/jrnl/args.py
index 4b2ba8ce..15c0731e 100644
--- a/jrnl/args.py
+++ b/jrnl/args.py
@@ -121,18 +121,19 @@ def parse_args(args=[]):
     )
     standalone.add_argument(
         "--import",
-        action="store_const",
         metavar="TYPE",
-        const=postconfig_import,
-        dest="postconfig_cmd",
+        dest="import_format",
+        nargs="?",
+        choices=IMPORT_FORMATS,
+        default="jrnl",
         help=f"""
         Import entries from another journal.
 
+        TYPE is the format to import [{util.oxford_list(IMPORT_FORMATS)}] (default: jrnl)
+
         Optional parameters:
 
         --file FILENAME (default: uses stdin)
-
-        --format [{util.oxford_list(IMPORT_FORMATS)}] (default: jrnl)
         """,
     )
     standalone.add_argument(
diff --git a/jrnl/commands.py b/jrnl/commands.py
index a96a2956..0a036a41 100644
--- a/jrnl/commands.py
+++ b/jrnl/commands.py
@@ -69,8 +69,7 @@ def postconfig_import(args, config, **kwargs):
     # Requires opening the journal
     journal = open_journal(args.journal_name, config)
 
-    format = args.export if args.export else "jrnl"
-    get_importer(format).import_(journal, args.filename)
+    get_importer(args.import_format).import_(journal, args.filename)
 
 
 def postconfig_encrypt(args, config, original_config, **kwargs):