diff --git a/docs/manpages/gbp-rpm-ch.xml b/docs/manpages/gbp-rpm-ch.xml
index 70cc28bf..86e4c766 100644
--- a/docs/manpages/gbp-rpm-ch.xml
+++ b/docs/manpages/gbp-rpm-ch.xml
@@ -28,7 +28,10 @@
       <arg><option>--packaging-dir=</option><replaceable>DIRECTORY</replaceable></arg>
       <arg><option>--changelog-file=</option><replaceable>FILEPATH</replaceable></arg>
       <arg><option>--spec-file=</option><replaceable>FILEPATH</replaceable></arg>
-      <arg><option>--since=</option><replaceable>COMMITISH</replaceable></arg>
+      <group>
+        <arg><option>--message=</option><replaceable>MESSAGE</replaceable></arg>
+        <arg><option>--since=</option><replaceable>COMMITISH</replaceable></arg>
+      </group>
       <arg><option>--no-release</option></arg>
       <arg><option>--[no-]git-author</option></arg>
       <arg><option>--[no-]full</option></arg>
@@ -270,6 +273,17 @@
           </para>
         </listitem>
       </varlistentry>
+      <varlistentry>
+        <term><option>--message=<replaceable>MESSAGE</replaceable></option>
+        </term>
+        <listitem>
+          <para>
+          Text to use for new changelog entries. Git history and the commit
+          messages, including <option>--since</option> and
+          <option>--all</option> options are ignored in this case.
+          </para>
+        </listitem>
+      </varlistentry>
       <varlistentry>
         <term><option>--commit</option>
         </term>
diff --git a/gbp/scripts/rpm_ch.py b/gbp/scripts/rpm_ch.py
index 298fd646..0ceb3093 100644
--- a/gbp/scripts/rpm_ch.py
+++ b/gbp/scripts/rpm_ch.py
@@ -291,6 +291,37 @@ def entries_from_commits(changelog, repo, commits, options):
     return entries
 
 
+def entries_from_text(changelog, text, author):
+    """Generate a list of changelog entries from a string"""
+    entries = []
+    # Use current user as the author for all entries
+    for line in text.splitlines():
+        if line.strip():
+            entry_text = "- %s" % line.strip()
+            entries.append(changelog.create_entry(author=author,
+                                                  text=entry_text))
+    return entries
+
+
+def generate_new_entries(changelog, repo, options, args):
+    """Generate new entries to be appended to changelog"""
+    if options.message:
+        author = get_author(repo, options.git_author)[0]
+        entries = entries_from_text(changelog, options.message, author)
+    else:
+        # Get range of commits from where to generate changes
+        since = get_start_commit(changelog, repo, options)
+        if args:
+            gbp.log.info("Only looking for changes in '%s'" % ", ".join(args))
+        commits = repo.get_commits(since=since, until='HEAD', paths=args,
+                                   options=options.git_log.split(" "))
+        commits.reverse()
+        if not commits:
+            gbp.log.info("No changes detected from %s to %s." % (since, 'HEAD'))
+        entries = entries_from_commits(changelog, repo, commits, options)
+    return entries
+
+
 def update_changelog(changelog, entries, repo, spec, options):
     """Update the changelog with a range of commits"""
     # Get info for section header
@@ -431,6 +462,9 @@ def build_parser(name):
                                       dest="spawn_editor")
     format_grp.add_config_file_option(option_name="editor-cmd",
                                       dest="editor_cmd")
+    format_grp.add_option("-m", '--message',
+                          help="text to use as new changelog entries - git commit "
+                          "messages and the --since are ignored in this case")
     # Commit/tag group options
     commit_grp.add_option("-c", "--commit", action="store_true",
                           help="commit changes")
@@ -485,27 +519,18 @@ def main(argv):
 
         # Find and parse changelog file
         ch_file = parse_changelog_file(repo, spec, options)
-        since = get_start_commit(ch_file.changelog, repo, options)
 
-        # Get range of commits from where to generate changes
-        if args:
-            gbp.log.info("Only looking for changes in '%s'" % ", ".join(args))
-        commits = repo.get_commits(since=since, until='HEAD', paths=args,
-                                   options=options.git_log.split(" "))
-        commits.reverse()
-        if not commits:
-            gbp.log.info("No changes detected from %s to %s." % (since, 'HEAD'))
+        # Get new entries
+        entries = generate_new_entries(ch_file.changelog, repo, options, args)
 
         # Do the actual update
-        entries = entries_from_commits(ch_file.changelog, repo, commits,
-                                       options)
         tag, tag_msg, author, committer = update_changelog(ch_file.changelog,
                                                            entries, repo, spec,
                                                            options)
         # Write to file
         ch_file.write()
 
-        if editor_cmd:
+        if editor_cmd and not options.message:
             gbpc.Command(editor_cmd, [ch_file.path])()
 
         if options.commit:
diff --git a/tests/component/rpm/test_rpm_ch.py b/tests/component/rpm/test_rpm_ch.py
index bc57d8be..91c2358b 100644
--- a/tests/component/rpm/test_rpm_ch.py
+++ b/tests/component/rpm/test_rpm_ch.py
@@ -343,6 +343,17 @@ def test_option_editor_cmd(self):
         eq_(mock_ch(['--spawn-editor=always', '--editor-cmd=']),
             0)
 
+    def test_option_message(self):
+        """Test the --message cmdline option"""
+        self.init_test_repo('gbp-test-native')
+        orig_content = self.read_file('packaging/gbp-test-native.changes')
+
+        eq_(mock_ch(['--message', 'my entry\nanother entry']), 0)
+        content = self.read_file('packaging/gbp-test-native.changes')
+        # Added header, two entries and a blank line
+        eq_(len(content), len(orig_content) + 4)
+        eq_(content[2], '- another entry\n')
+
     def test_user_customizations(self):
         """Test the user customizations"""
         repo = self.init_test_repo('gbp-test-native')