diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 005119ba..8e8299dc 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.4.1
+2.4.2
diff --git a/opendm/config.py b/opendm/config.py
index 14278bf2..d4b860d2 100755
--- a/opendm/config.py
+++ b/opendm/config.py
@@ -608,6 +608,14 @@ def config(argv=None, parser=None):
                         'are added to the cluster. This is done to ensure '
                         'that neighboring submodels overlap. Default: %(default)s')
 
+    parser.add_argument('--split-image-groups',
+                        metavar='<path string>',
+                        action=StoreValue,
+                        default=None,
+                        help=('Path to the image groups file that controls how images should be split into groups. '
+                              'The file needs to use the following format: \n'
+                              'image_name group_name\n'
+                              'Default: %(default)s'))
     # parser.add_argument('--split-multitracks',
     #                    action=StoreTrue,
     #                    nargs=0,
diff --git a/opendm/osfm.py b/opendm/osfm.py
index 8ada2144..a3a48342 100644
--- a/opendm/osfm.py
+++ b/opendm/osfm.py
@@ -93,9 +93,13 @@ class OSFMContext:
             
             # check for image_groups.txt (split-merge)
             image_groups_file = os.path.join(args.project_path, "image_groups.txt")
+            if 'split_image_groups_is_set' in args:
+                image_groups_file = os.path.abspath(args.split_image_groups)
+
             if io.file_exists(image_groups_file):
-                log.ODM_INFO("Copied image_groups.txt to OpenSfM directory")
-                io.copy(image_groups_file, os.path.join(self.opensfm_project_path, "image_groups.txt"))
+                dst_groups_file = os.path.join(self.opensfm_project_path, "image_groups.txt")
+                io.copy(image_groups_file, dst_groups_file)
+                log.ODM_INFO("Copied %s to %s" % (image_groups_file, dst_groups_file))
         
             # check for cameras
             if args.cameras: