diff --git a/fanficfare/cli.py b/fanficfare/cli.py
index 750546e1..58aec07c 100644
--- a/fanficfare/cli.py
+++ b/fanficfare/cli.py
@@ -411,6 +411,12 @@ def do_download(arg,
                 if not options.update and chaptercount == urlchaptercount and adapter.getConfig('do_update_hook'):
                     adapter.hookForUpdates(chaptercount)
 
+                if adapter.getConfig('pre_process_safepattern'):
+                    metadata = adapter.story.get_filename_safe_metadata(pattern=adapter.getConfig('pre_process_safepattern'))
+                else:
+                    metadata = adapter.story.getAllMetadata()
+                call(string.Template(adapter.getConfig('pre_process_cmd')).substitute(metadata), shell=True)
+
                 write_story(configuration, adapter, 'epub')
 
         else:
@@ -427,6 +433,13 @@ def do_download(arg,
                 else:
                     pprint.pprint(metadata)
 
+            if not options.metaonly and adapter.getConfig('pre_process_cmd'):
+                if adapter.getConfig('pre_process_safepattern'):
+                    metadata = adapter.story.get_filename_safe_metadata(pattern=adapter.getConfig('pre_process_safepattern'))
+                else:
+                    metadata = adapter.story.getAllMetadata()
+                call(string.Template(adapter.getConfig('pre_process_cmd')).substitute(metadata), shell=True)
+
             output_filename = write_story(configuration, adapter, options.format, options.metaonly)
 
         if not options.metaonly and adapter.getConfig('post_process_cmd'):
diff --git a/fanficfare/defaults.ini b/fanficfare/defaults.ini
index 0db3243e..e3c1adab 100644
--- a/fanficfare/defaults.ini
+++ b/fanficfare/defaults.ini
@@ -203,6 +203,18 @@ connect_timeout:60.0
 ## each metadata item passed to post_process_cmd before it's called.
 #post_process_safepattern:(^\.|/\.|[^a-zA-Z0-9_\. \[\]\(\)&'-]+)
 
+## For use only with CLI version--run a command 3*before* the output
+## file is written.  All of the titlepage_entries values are
+## available, (but not output_filename).  Can be used to generate
+## cover images that are then included in the output ebook using
+## default_cover_image.
+#pre_process_cmd:tenprintcover.py --author "${author}" --title "${title}" --cover cover.png
+
+## Some operating systems and command shells have problems with some
+## characters.  When set, pre_process_safepattern will be applied to
+## each metadata item passed to pre_process_cmd before it's called.
+#pre_process_safepattern:(^\.|/\.|[^a-zA-Z0-9_\. \[\]\(\)&'-]+)
+
 ## For use only with CLI version--display a simple progress bar while
 ## downloading--one dot(.) per network fetch.  Same as using --progressbar
 #progressbar:false