diff --git a/docs/embeddings/cli.md b/docs/embeddings/cli.md
index ce92f5b6..e7a16c87 100644
--- a/docs/embeddings/cli.md
+++ b/docs/embeddings/cli.md
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ All three mechanisms support these options:
 - `-d database.db` to specify a different database file to store the embeddings in
 - `--store` to store the original content in the embeddings table in addition to the embedding vector
 - `--prefix` to prepend a prefix to the stored ID of each item
+- `--batch-size SIZE` to process embeddings in batches of the specified size
 
 (embeddings-cli-embed-multi-csv-etc)=
 ### Embedding data from a CSV, TSV or JSON file
diff --git a/docs/help.md b/docs/help.md
index afe2d59e..6813ef7a 100644
--- a/docs/help.md
+++ b/docs/help.md
@@ -516,6 +516,7 @@ Options:
   --sql TEXT                   Read input using this SQL query
   --attach <TEXT FILE>...      Additional databases to attach - specify alias
                                and file path
+  --batch-size INTEGER         Batch size to use when running embeddings
   --prefix TEXT                Prefix to add to the IDs
   -m, --model TEXT             Embedding model to use
   --store                      Store the text itself in the database
diff --git a/llm/cli.py b/llm/cli.py
index 2ea2706c..8e649a6d 100644
--- a/llm/cli.py
+++ b/llm/cli.py
@@ -1182,6 +1182,9 @@ def get_db():
     multiple=True,
     help="Additional databases to attach - specify alias and file path",
 )
+@click.option(
+    "--batch-size", type=int, help="Batch size to use when running embeddings"
+)
 @click.option("--prefix", help="Prefix to add to the IDs", default="")
 @click.option("-m", "--model", help="Embedding model to use")
 @click.option("--store", is_flag=True, help="Store the text itself in the database")
@@ -1200,6 +1203,7 @@ def embed_multi(
     binary,
     sql,
     attach,
+    batch_size,
     prefix,
     model,
     store,
@@ -1324,7 +1328,10 @@ def tuples() -> Iterable[Tuple[str, Union[bytes, str]]]:
                 else:
                     yield id, " ".join(v or "" for v in values[1:])
 
-        collection_obj.embed_multi(tuples(), store=store)
+        embed_kwargs = {"store": store}
+        if batch_size:
+            embed_kwargs["batch_size"] = batch_size
+        collection_obj.embed_multi(tuples(), **embed_kwargs)
 
 
 @cli.command()
diff --git a/tests/test_embed_cli.py b/tests/test_embed_cli.py
index 8322bf0d..ab435cf3 100644
--- a/tests/test_embed_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_embed_cli.py
@@ -369,6 +369,40 @@ def test_embed_multi_sql(tmpdir, use_other_db, prefix):
     ]
 
 
+def test_embed_multi_batch_size(embed_demo, tmpdir):
+    db_path = str(tmpdir / "data.db")
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    sql = """
+    with recursive cte (id) as (
+      select 1
+      union all
+      select id+1 from cte where id < 100
+    )
+    select id, 'Row ' || cast(id as text) as value from cte
+    """
+    assert getattr(embed_demo, "batch_count", 0) == 0
+    result = runner.invoke(
+        cli,
+        [
+            "embed-multi",
+            "rows",
+            "--sql",
+            sql,
+            "-d",
+            db_path,
+            "-m",
+            "embed-demo",
+            "--store",
+            "--batch-size",
+            "8",
+        ],
+    )
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    db = sqlite_utils.Database(db_path)
+    assert db["embeddings"].count == 100
+    assert embed_demo.batch_count == 13
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def multi_files(tmpdir):
     db_path = str(tmpdir / "files.db")