diff --git a/core/dbt/cli/main.py b/core/dbt/cli/main.py
index 610163042c4..c30a616732e 100644
--- a/core/dbt/cli/main.py
+++ b/core/dbt/cli/main.py
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ def global_flags(func):
     @p.fail_fast
     @p.favor_state
     @p.indirect_selection
+    @p.keep_connections_alive
     @p.log_cache_events
     @p.log_file_max_bytes
     @p.log_format
diff --git a/core/dbt/cli/params.py b/core/dbt/cli/params.py
index 33f586248c5..690510b36c6 100644
--- a/core/dbt/cli/params.py
+++ b/core/dbt/cli/params.py
@@ -734,3 +734,11 @@ def _version_callback(ctx, _param, value):
     envvar="DBT_SHOW_RESOURCE_REPORT",
     hidden=True,
 )
+
+keep_connections_alive = click.option(
+    "--keep-connections-alive/--no-keep-connections-alive",
+    envvar=None,
+    help="Experimental: Keep connections alive between dbt invocations. Useful when using dbt as an API.",
+    default=False,
+    is_flag=True,
+)
diff --git a/core/dbt/cli/requires.py b/core/dbt/cli/requires.py
index 058b16cdfaa..bda9c7b096f 100644
--- a/core/dbt/cli/requires.py
+++ b/core/dbt/cli/requires.py
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
         if flags.RECORD_TIMING_INFO:
             ctx.with_resource(profiler(enable=True, outfile=flags.RECORD_TIMING_INFO))
 
-        # Adapter management
-        ctx.with_resource(adapter_management())
+        if not flags.KEEP_CONNECTIONS_ALIVE:
+            ctx.with_resource(adapter_management())
 
         return func(*args, **kwargs)