diff --git a/changelog/check-switch.dd b/changelog/check-switch.dd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..de0ad0edd7e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/check-switch.dd
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+Added -check switch to turn on and off each category of runtime checks.
+
+        Option("check=[assert|bounds|in|invariant|out|switch][=[on|off]]",
+            `Overrides default, -boundscheck, -release and -unittest options to enable or disable specific checks.
+                $(UL
+                    $(LI $(B assert): assertion checking)
+                    $(LI $(B bounds): array bounds)
+                    $(LI $(B in): in contracts)
+                    $(LI $(B invariant): class/struct invariants)
+                    $(LI $(B out): out contracts)
+                    $(LI $(B switch): switch default)
+                )
+                $(UL
+                    $(LI $(B on) or not specified: specified check is enabled.)
+                    $(LI $(B off): specified check is disabled.)
+                )`
+        )
+
diff --git a/src/dmd/cli.d b/src/dmd/cli.d
index bc579817c080..07769447dd69 100644
--- a/src/dmd/cli.d
+++ b/src/dmd/cli.d
@@ -169,14 +169,30 @@ struct Usage
         Option("c",
             "compile only, do not link"
         ),
+        Option("check=[assert|bounds|in|invariant|out|switch][=[on|off]]",
+            "Enable or disable specific checks",
+            `Overrides default, -boundscheck, -release and -unittest options to enable or disable specific checks.
+                $(UL
+                    $(LI $(B assert): assertion checking)
+                    $(LI $(B bounds): array bounds)
+                    $(LI $(B in): in contracts)
+                    $(LI $(B invariant): class/struct invariants)
+                    $(LI $(B out): out contracts)
+                    $(LI $(B switch): switch default)
+                )
+                $(UL
+                    $(LI $(B on) or not specified: specified check is enabled.)
+                    $(LI $(B off): specified check is disabled.)
+                )`
+        ),
         Option("checkaction=D|C|halt",
             "behavior on assert/boundscheck/finalswitch failure",
             `Sets behavior when an assert fails, and array boundscheck fails,
              or a final switch errors.
                 $(UL
-                    $(LI $(I D): Default behavior, which throws an unrecoverable $(D Error).)
-                    $(LI $(I C): Calls the C runtime library assert failure function.)
-                    $(LI $(I halt): Executes a halt instruction, terminating the program.)
+                    $(LI $(B D): Default behavior, which throws an unrecoverable $(D Error).)
+                    $(LI $(B C): Calls the C runtime library assert failure function.)
+                    $(LI $(B halt): Executes a halt instruction, terminating the program.)
                 )`
         ),
         Option("color",
diff --git a/src/dmd/globals.d b/src/dmd/globals.d
index 6e475694229e..fc71c0fb998a 100644
--- a/src/dmd/globals.d
+++ b/src/dmd/globals.d
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ struct Param
     CHECKENABLE useArrayBounds = CHECKENABLE._default;  // when to generate code for array bounds checks
     CHECKENABLE useAssert      = CHECKENABLE._default;  // when to generate code for assert()'s
     CHECKENABLE useSwitchError = CHECKENABLE._default;  // check for switches without a default
+    CHECKENABLE boundscheck    = CHECKENABLE._default;  // state of -boundscheck switch
 
     CHECKACTION checkAction = CHECKACTION.D; // action to take when bounds, asserts or switch defaults are violated
 
diff --git a/src/dmd/globals.h b/src/dmd/globals.h
index 336deae5481c..cad7cae5f36b 100644
--- a/src/dmd/globals.h
+++ b/src/dmd/globals.h
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ struct Param
     CHECKENABLE useArrayBounds;    // when to generate code for array bounds checks
     CHECKENABLE useAssert;         // when to generate code for assert()'s
     CHECKENABLE useSwitchError;    // check for switches without a default
+    CHECKENABLE boundscheck;       // state of -boundscheck switch
 
     CHECKACTION checkAction;       // action to take when bounds, asserts or switch defaults are violated
 
diff --git a/src/dmd/mars.d b/src/dmd/mars.d
index 8e70f9728a11..efd2a05c51a9 100644
--- a/src/dmd/mars.d
+++ b/src/dmd/mars.d
@@ -335,6 +335,19 @@ private int tryMain(size_t argc, const(char)** argv)
             global.params.mscrtlib = vsopt.defaultRuntimeLibrary(global.params.is64bit);
         }
     }
+
+    if (global.params.boundscheck != CHECKENABLE._default)
+    {
+        if (global.params.useArrayBounds == CHECKENABLE._default)
+            global.params.useArrayBounds = global.params.boundscheck;
+    }
+
+    if (global.params.useUnitTests)
+    {
+        if (global.params.useAssert == CHECKENABLE._default)
+            global.params.useAssert = CHECKENABLE.on;
+    }
+
     if (global.params.release)
     {
         if (global.params.useInvariants == CHECKENABLE._default)
@@ -376,9 +389,6 @@ private int tryMain(size_t argc, const(char)** argv)
             global.params.useSwitchError = CHECKENABLE.on;
     }
 
-    if (global.params.useUnitTests)
-        global.params.useAssert = CHECKENABLE.on;
-
     if (global.params.betterC)
     {
         global.params.checkAction = CHECKACTION.C;
@@ -1499,6 +1509,42 @@ bool parseCommandLine(const ref Strings arguments, const size_t argc, ref Param
             params.useDeprecated = Diagnostic.inform;
         else if (arg == "-c")                // https://dlang.org/dmd.html#switch-c
             params.link = false;
+        else if (startsWith(p + 1, "check=")) // https://dlang.org/dmd.html#switch-check
+        {
+            /* Parse:
+             *    -check=[assert|bounds|in|invariant|out|switch][=[on|off]]
+             */
+
+            // Check for legal option string; return true if so
+            static bool check(const(char)* p, string name, ref CHECKENABLE ce)
+            {
+                p += "-check=".length;
+                if (startsWith(p, name))
+                {
+                    p += name.length;
+                    if (*p == 0 ||
+                        strcmp(p, "=on") == 0)
+                    {
+                        ce = CHECKENABLE.on;
+                        return true;
+                    }
+                    else if (strcmp(p, "=off") == 0)
+                    {
+                        ce = CHECKENABLE.off;
+                        return true;
+                    }
+                }
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            if (!(check(p, "assert",    params.useAssert     ) ||
+                  check(p, "bounds",    params.useArrayBounds) ||
+                  check(p, "in",        params.useIn         ) ||
+                  check(p, "invariant", params.useInvariants ) ||
+                  check(p, "out",       params.useOut        ) ||
+                  check(p, "switch",    params.useSwitchError)))
+                goto Lerror;
+        }
         else if (startsWith(p + 1, "checkaction=")) // https://dlang.org/dmd.html#switch-checkaction
         {
             /* Parse:
@@ -1956,7 +2002,7 @@ bool parseCommandLine(const ref Strings arguments, const size_t argc, ref Param
             params.betterC = true;
         else if (arg == "-noboundscheck") // https://dlang.org/dmd.html#switch-noboundscheck
         {
-            params.useArrayBounds = CHECKENABLE.off;
+            params.boundscheck = CHECKENABLE.off;
         }
         else if (startsWith(p + 1, "boundscheck")) // https://dlang.org/dmd.html#switch-boundscheck
         {
@@ -1966,15 +2012,15 @@ bool parseCommandLine(const ref Strings arguments, const size_t argc, ref Param
             {
                 if (strcmp(p + 13, "on") == 0)
                 {
-                    params.useArrayBounds = CHECKENABLE.on;
+                    params.boundscheck = CHECKENABLE.on;
                 }
                 else if (strcmp(p + 13, "safeonly") == 0)
                 {
-                    params.useArrayBounds = CHECKENABLE.safeonly;
+                    params.boundscheck = CHECKENABLE.safeonly;
                 }
                 else if (strcmp(p + 13, "off") == 0)
                 {
-                    params.useArrayBounds = CHECKENABLE.off;
+                    params.boundscheck = CHECKENABLE.off;
                 }
                 else
                     goto Lerror;