diff --git a/src/msr2data.cpp b/src/msr2data.cpp
index 8408f2c1..637bc4db 100644
--- a/src/msr2data.cpp
+++ b/src/msr2data.cpp
@@ -129,6 +129,8 @@ void msr2data_syntax()
   std::cout << std::endl << "       -e, --estimateN0: estimate N0 for single histogram fits.";
   std::cout << std::endl << "       -y, --yaml:  write fit results (MINUIT2.OUTPUT) into a yaml-file. Output <msr-file>.yaml";
   std::cout << std::endl << "       -p, --per-run-block-chisq: will per run block chisq to the msr-file.";
+  std::cout << std::endl << "       -u, --use-no-of-threads <number>: if fitting is used, pass the option --use-no-of-threads <number> to musrfit";
+  std::cout << std::endl << "              <number>: number of threads to be used (OpenMP). Needs to be <= max. number of cores.";
   std::cout << std::endl;
   std::cout << std::endl << "       global : switch on the global-fit mode";
   std::cout << std::endl << "              Within that mode all specified runs will be united in a single msr file!";
@@ -197,11 +199,20 @@ std::string msr2data_validArguments(const std::vector<std::string> &arg)
     else if (!iter->substr(0,2).compare("-o")) {
       word.clear();
       if (!iter->compare("-o")) {
-        if (++iter == arg.end())
+        // the next argument is the output file name, unless it is the -u option (which takes its own <number>)
+        std::vector<std::string>::const_iterator iterNext(iter + 1);
+        if (iterNext == arg.end())
           break;
-        else
-          continue;
+        else if ((iterNext->compare("-u")) && (iterNext->compare("--use-no-of-threads")))
+          ++iter;
+        continue;
       }
+    } else if ((!iter->compare("-u")) || (!iter->compare("--use-no-of-threads"))) {
+      word.clear();
+      if (++iter == arg.end()) // <number> is checked later in msr2data_noOfThreads
+        break;
+      else
+        continue;
     } else {
       word = *iter;
       break;
@@ -239,6 +250,7 @@ std::string msr2data_outputfile(std::vector<std::string> &arg, bool db = true)
         if ((iterNext != arg.end()) && (iterNext->compare("header")) && (iterNext->compare("noheader")) && (iterNext->compare("nosummary")) \
             && (iterNext->substr(0,3).compare("fit")) && (iterNext->compare("-k")) && (iterNext->compare("-t")) \
             && (iterNext->compare("-e")) && (iterNext->compare("-p")) \
+            && (iterNext->compare("-u")) && (iterNext->compare("--use-no-of-threads")) \
             && (iterNext->compare("data")) && (iterNext->substr(0,3).compare("msr")) && (iterNext->compare("global")) \
             && (iterNext->compare("global+")) && (iterNext->compare("global+!")) && (iterNext->compare("new"))) {
           outputFile = *iterNext;
@@ -287,6 +299,56 @@ bool msr2data_useOption(std::vector<std::string> &arg, const std::string &s)
   return option;
 }
 
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/**
+ * <p>Checks if the option '-u, --use-no-of-threads <number>' is present in the
+ * argument input list. If present, the option and its <number> are removed from
+ * the argument list.
+ *
+ * <p><b>return:</b>
+ * - 0 if the option is not present
+ * - <number> (> 0) if the option is present and valid
+ * - -1 if the option is present but <number> is missing or not a positive integer
+ *
+ * \param arg list of arguments
+ */
+int msr2data_noOfThreads(std::vector<std::string> &arg)
+{
+  std::vector<std::string>::iterator iter;
+  iter = find(arg.begin(), arg.end(), "-u");
+  if (iter == arg.end())
+    iter = find(arg.begin(), arg.end(), "--use-no-of-threads");
+  if (iter == arg.end())
+    return 0;
+
+  std::vector<std::string>::iterator iterNext(iter + 1);
+  if (iterNext == arg.end()) {
+    std::cerr << std::endl << ">> msr2data: **ERROR** found option --use-no-of-threads without <number>" << std::endl;
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  if (!isNumber(*iterNext)) {
+    std::cerr << std::endl << ">> msr2data: **ERROR** found option --use-no-of-threads where <number> is not a number: '" << *iterNext << "'" << std::endl;
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  int noOfThreads(0);
+  try {
+    noOfThreads = boost::lexical_cast<int>(*iterNext);
+  } catch (boost::bad_lexical_cast &) {
+    noOfThreads = 0;
+  }
+  if (noOfThreads <= 0) {
+    std::cerr << std::endl << ">> msr2data: **ERROR** found option --use-no-of-threads with <number> <= 0" << std::endl;
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  // remove the option and its <number> from the argument list
+  arg.erase(iter, iterNext + 1);
+
+  return noOfThreads;
+}
+
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 /**
  * <p>Filters out the template run number (if present) and check at the
@@ -699,6 +761,13 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
   temp = msr2data_doFitting(arg, chainfit);
 
+  // check if the number of threads for musrfit is given (-u, --use-no-of-threads <number>)
+  int noOfThreads(msr2data_noOfThreads(arg));
+  if (noOfThreads == -1) {
+    msr2data_syntax();
+    return -1;
+  }
+
   if (temp == -2) {
     std::cerr << std::endl;
     std::cerr << ">> msr2data: **ERROR** More than one fitting options are specified! Quitting..." << std::endl;
@@ -722,6 +791,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
       musrfitOptions.append("-y ");
     if (!msr2data_useOption(arg, "-p") || !msr2data_useOption(arg, "--per-run-block-chisq"))
       musrfitOptions.append("-p ");
+    if (noOfThreads > 0)
+      musrfitOptions.append("-u " + std::to_string(noOfThreads) + " ");
   }
 
   // if no fitting should be done, check if only the input files should be created