diff --git a/docs/docs/cli.md b/docs/docs/cli.md
index 1a2615a9d9d..0581a6048e1 100644
--- a/docs/docs/cli.md
+++ b/docs/docs/cli.md
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ update the constraint, for example `^2.3`. You can do this using the `add` comma
 * `--dry-run` : Outputs the operations but will not execute anything (implicitly enables --verbose).
 * `--no-dev` : Do not install dev dependencies.
 * `--lock` : Do not perform install (only update the lockfile).
+* `--editable`: "Add as dependency in editable mode. Only permissible for non path or VCS dependencies!"
 
 ## add
 
@@ -230,7 +231,13 @@ poetry add ../my-package/dist/my-package-0.1.0.tar.gz
 poetry add ../my-package/dist/my_package-0.1.0.whl
 ```
 
-If you want the dependency to be installed in editable mode you can specify it in the `pyproject.toml` file. It means that changes in the local directory will be reflected directly in environment.
+If you want the dependency to be installed in editable mode you can pass the `--editable` flag or specify it in the `pyproject.toml` file. It means that changes in the local directory will be reflected directly in environment.
+
+```bash
+poetry add --editable ../my/path
+```
+
+or
 
 ```toml
 [tool.poetry.dependencies]
@@ -242,6 +249,14 @@ my-package = {path = "../my/path", develop = true}
     Before poetry 1.1 path dependencies were installed in editable mode by default. You should always set the `develop` attribute explicit,
     to make sure the behavior is the same for all poetry versions.
 
+!!!note
+
+    We are working on resolving the inconsistency in the naming of the `--editable` flag and the `develop` attribute. In future the `develop` attribute will be deprecated!
+
+!!!note
+
+    Currently passing the `--editable` flag with a non path or VCS dependency will result in a nonintuitive runtime error. We are currently working on providing a better error message.
+
 If the package(s) you want to install provide extras, you can specify them
 when adding the package:
 
diff --git a/poetry/console/commands/add.py b/poetry/console/commands/add.py
index 29cf07d2a26..c17cf9aaef6 100644
--- a/poetry/console/commands/add.py
+++ b/poetry/console/commands/add.py
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ class AddCommand(InstallerCommand, InitCommand):
             "Output the operations but do not execute anything (implicitly enables --verbose).",
         ),
         option("lock", None, "Do not perform operations (only update the lockfile)."),
+        option(
+            "editable",
+            None,
+            "Add as dependency in editable mode. Will cause command to fail for non path or VCS dependencies!",
+        ),
     ]
     help = (
         "The add command adds required packages to your <comment>pyproject.toml</> and installs them.\n\n"
@@ -146,6 +151,9 @@ def handle(self):
             if self.option("source"):
                 constraint["source"] = self.option("source")
 
+            if self.option("editable"):
+                constraint["develop"] = True
+
             if len(constraint) == 1 and "version" in constraint:
                 constraint = constraint["version"]
 
diff --git a/tests/console/commands/test_add.py b/tests/console/commands/test_add.py
index 19998592ac3..cff3d3d67f3 100644
--- a/tests/console/commands/test_add.py
+++ b/tests/console/commands/test_add.py
@@ -811,6 +811,61 @@ def test_add_with_lock(app, repo, tester):
     assert content_hash != app.poetry.locker.lock_data["metadata"]["content-hash"]
 
 
+def test_add_with_editable_fails_for_schema_without_develop(app, repo, tester):
+    repo.add_package(get_package("cachy", "0.2.0"))
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as e:
+        tester.execute("cachy --editable")
+    # TODO: Provide better error message.
+    # `Develop` attribute is only supported by directory
+    # https://github.com/python-poetry/poetry-core/blob/master/poetry/core/packages/directory_dependency.py
+    # and vcs https://github.com/python-poetry/poetry-core/blob/master/poetry/core/packages/directory_dependency.py
+    # dependencies. There should be an explicit error message raised, stating that `develop` is
+    # inappropriate for other source types.
+    assert """\
+The Poetry configuration is invalid:
+  - [dependencies.cachy] {'version': '^0.2.0', 'develop': True} is not valid under any of the given schemas
+""" in str(
+        e.value
+    )
+
+
+def test_add_with_editable(app, repo, tester, mocker):
+    p = mocker.patch("poetry.utils._compat.Path.cwd")
+    p.return_value = Path(__file__).parent
+
+    repo.add_package(get_package("pendulum", "1.4.4"))
+    repo.add_package(get_package("cleo", "0.6.5"))
+
+    path = "../git/github.com/demo/demo"
+    tester.execute("{} --editable".format(path))
+
+    expected = """\
+
+Updating dependencies
+Resolving dependencies...
+
+Writing lock file
+
+Package operations: 2 installs, 0 updates, 0 removals
+
+  • Installing pendulum (1.4.4)
+  • Installing demo (0.1.2 {})
+""".format(
+        app.poetry.file.parent.joinpath(path).resolve().as_posix()
+    )
+
+    assert expected == tester.io.fetch_output()
+
+    content = app.poetry.file.read()["tool"]["poetry"]
+
+    assert "demo" in content["dependencies"]
+    assert content["dependencies"]["demo"] == {
+        "path": "../git/github.com/demo/demo",
+        "develop": True,
+    }
+
+
 def test_add_no_constraint_old_installer(app, repo, installer, old_tester):
     repo.add_package(get_package("cachy", "0.1.0"))
     repo.add_package(get_package("cachy", "0.2.0"))
@@ -1653,3 +1708,39 @@ def test_dry_run_restore_original_content(app, repo, installer, tester):
     tester.execute("cachy --dry-run")
 
     assert original_content == app.poetry.file.read()
+
+
+def test_add_with_editable_old_installer(app, repo, old_tester, mocker):
+    p = mocker.patch("poetry.utils._compat.Path.cwd")
+    p.return_value = Path(__file__).parent
+
+    repo.add_package(get_package("pendulum", "1.4.4"))
+    repo.add_package(get_package("cleo", "0.6.5"))
+
+    path = "../git/github.com/demo/demo"
+    old_tester.execute("{} --editable".format(path))
+
+    expected = """\
+
+Updating dependencies
+Resolving dependencies...
+
+Writing lock file
+
+Package operations: 2 installs, 0 updates, 0 removals
+
+  - Installing pendulum (1.4.4)
+  - Installing demo (0.1.2 {})
+""".format(
+        app.poetry.file.parent.joinpath(path).resolve().as_posix()
+    )
+
+    assert expected == old_tester.io.fetch_output()
+
+    content = app.poetry.file.read()["tool"]["poetry"]
+
+    assert "demo" in content["dependencies"]
+    assert content["dependencies"]["demo"] == {
+        "path": "../git/github.com/demo/demo",
+        "develop": True,
+    }