diff --git a/mypy.ini b/mypy.ini
index 1c36f6ba6d..dc277f2583 100644
--- a/mypy.ini
+++ b/mypy.ini
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ ignore_missing_imports = True
 [mypy-linter_lib.printer]
 ignore_missing_imports = True
 
-[mypy-zulint,zulint.lister,zulint.lister.*]
+[mypy-zulint,zulint.*,zulint.lister.*]
 ignore_missing_imports = True
 
 
diff --git a/tools/lint b/tools/lint
index 8e7c4cf08b..375b2860cc 100755
--- a/tools/lint
+++ b/tools/lint
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from lib import sanity_check
 sanity_check.check_venv(__file__)
 
 from zulint import lister
+from zulint.command import add_default_linter_arguments
 from typing import cast, Callable, Dict, Iterator, List
 
 
@@ -50,15 +51,6 @@ def run():
     parser.add_argument('--no-gitlint',
                         action='store_true',
                         help='Disable gitlint')
-    parser.add_argument('--modified', '-m',
-                        action='store_true',
-                        help='Only check modified files')
-    parser.add_argument('--verbose', '-v',
-                        action='store_true',
-                        help='Print verbose timing output')
-    parser.add_argument('targets',
-                        nargs='*',
-                        help='Specify directories to check')
     limited_tests_group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group()
     limited_tests_group.add_argument('--frontend',
                                      action='store_true',
@@ -66,6 +58,7 @@ def run():
     limited_tests_group.add_argument('--backend',
                                      action='store_true',
                                      help='Only check files relevant to backend')
+    add_default_linter_arguments(parser)
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     tools_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
diff --git a/tools/zulint/command.py b/tools/zulint/command.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c54f1f420b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/zulint/command.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+from __future__ import print_function
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+import argparse
+
+def add_default_linter_arguments(parser):
+    # type: (argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None
+    parser.add_argument('--modified', '-m',
+                        action='store_true',
+                        help='Only check modified files')
+    parser.add_argument('--verbose', '-v',
+                        action='store_true',
+                        help='Print verbose timing output')
+    parser.add_argument('targets',
+                        nargs='*',
+                        help='Specify directories to check')