diff --git a/baksmali/src/main/java/org/jf/baksmali/AnalysisArguments.java b/baksmali/src/main/java/org/jf/baksmali/AnalysisArguments.java
index 1d1904ef..d5286a12 100644
--- a/baksmali/src/main/java/org/jf/baksmali/AnalysisArguments.java
+++ b/baksmali/src/main/java/org/jf/baksmali/AnalysisArguments.java
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 package org.jf.baksmali;
 
 import com.beust.jcommander.Parameter;
+import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
 import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
 import org.jf.dexlib2.analysis.ClassPath;
 import org.jf.dexlib2.analysis.ClassPathResolver;
@@ -54,10 +55,11 @@ public class AnalysisArguments {
     public int apiLevel = 15;
 
     @Parameter(names = {"-b", "--bootclasspath", "--bcp"},
-            description = "A colon separated list of the files to include in the bootclasspath when analyzing the dex " +
-                    "file. If not specified, baksmali will attempt to choose an " +
+            description = "A colon separated list of the files to include in the bootclasspath when analyzing the " +
+                    "dex file. If not specified, baksmali will attempt to choose an " +
                     "appropriate default. When analyzing oat files, this can simply be the path to the device's " +
-                    "boot.oat file. See baksmali help classpath for more information.",
+                    "boot.oat file. A single empty string can be used to specify that an empty bootclasspath should " +
+                    "be used. (e.g. --bootclasspath \"\") See baksmali help classpath for more information.",
             splitter = ColonParameterSplitter.class)
     @ExtendedParameter(argumentNames = "classpath")
     public List<String> bootClassPath = null;
@@ -105,6 +107,10 @@ public class AnalysisArguments {
             // TODO: we should be able to get the api from the Opcodes object associated with the dexFile..
             // except that the oat version -> api mapping doesn't fully work yet
             resolver = new ClassPathResolver(filteredClassPathDirectories, classPath, dexFile, apiLevel);
+        }  else if (bootClassPath.size() == 1 && bootClassPath.get(0).length() == 0) {
+            // --bootclasspath "" is a special case, denoting that no bootclasspath should be used
+            resolver = new ClassPathResolver(
+                    ImmutableList.<String>of(), ImmutableList.<String>of(), classPath, dexFile);
         } else {
             resolver = new ClassPathResolver(filteredClassPathDirectories, bootClassPath, classPath, dexFile);
         }