diff --git a/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/management/commands/saml.py b/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/management/commands/saml.py
index 01918157ae..dd2c6c1049 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/management/commands/saml.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/management/commands/saml.py
@@ -12,16 +12,14 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     """ manage.py commands to manage SAML/Shibboleth SSO """
     help = '''Configure/maintain/update SAML-based SSO'''
 
-    def handle(self, *args, **options):
-        if len(args) != 1:
-            raise CommandError("saml requires one argument: pull")
+    def add_arguments(self, parser):
+        parser.add_argument('--pull', action='store_true', help="Pull updated metadata from external IDPs")
 
+    def handle(self, *args, **options):
         if not SAMLConfiguration.is_enabled():
             raise CommandError("SAML support is disabled via SAMLConfiguration.")
 
-        subcommand = args[0]
-
-        if subcommand == "pull":
+        if options['pull']:
             log_handler = logging.StreamHandler(self.stdout)
             log_handler.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
             log = logging.getLogger('third_party_auth.tasks')