diff --git a/features/command_line_interface/options.feature b/features/command_line_interface/options.feature
index 6b4f826f6..acc22200b 100644
--- a/features/command_line_interface/options.feature
+++ b/features/command_line_interface/options.feature
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ Feature: Reek can be controlled using command-line options
               --smell SMELL                Only look for a specific smell.
                                            Call it like this: reek --smell MissingSafeMethod source.rb
                                            Check out https://github.com/troessner/reek/blob/v4.8.1/docs/Code-Smells.md for a list of smells
+              --stdin-filename FILE        When passing code in via pipe, assume this filename when checking file or directory rules in the config.
 
       Generate a todo list:
           -t, --todo                       Generate a todo list
diff --git a/features/command_line_interface/stdin.feature b/features/command_line_interface/stdin.feature
index a2f972c50..6f91d38de 100644
--- a/features/command_line_interface/stdin.feature
+++ b/features/command_line_interface/stdin.feature
@@ -41,3 +41,33 @@ Feature: Reek reads from $stdin when no files are given
         [2]:Syntax: This file has unexpected token $end
         [1]:Syntax: This file has unexpected token tEQL
       """
+
+  Scenario: providing a filename to use for the config to match against
+    Given a file named "web_app/config.reek" with:
+      """
+      ---
+      directories:
+        "web_app/app/controllers":
+          IrresponsibleModule:
+            enabled: false
+          NestedIterators:
+            enabled: false
+          InstanceVariableAssumption:
+            enabled: false
+      """
+    When I pass a stdin to reek --config web_app/config.reek --stdin-filename web_app/app/controllers/users_controller with:
+      """
+      class UsersController < ApplicationController
+        def show
+          respond_with do |format|
+            format.json { |json| @user.to_custom_json }
+            format.xml { |xml| @user.to_fancy_xml }
+          end
+        end
+      end
+      """
+    Then it succeeds
+    And it reports nothing
+
+
+
diff --git a/features/step_definitions/reek_steps.rb b/features/step_definitions/reek_steps.rb
index 91e06cdc0..787a25a59 100644
--- a/features/step_definitions/reek_steps.rb
+++ b/features/step_definitions/reek_steps.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@
   reek_with_pipe(stdin, args)
 end
 
+When /^I pass a stdin to reek *(.*) with:$/ do |args, stdin|
+  reek_with_pipe(stdin, args)
+end
+
 Then /^it reports nothing$/ do
   expect(last_command_started).to have_output_on_stdout('')
 end
diff --git a/lib/reek/cli/command/report_command.rb b/lib/reek/cli/command/report_command.rb
index 0395855b0..7a0c0ad48 100644
--- a/lib/reek/cli/command/report_command.rb
+++ b/lib/reek/cli/command/report_command.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ def execute
 
         def populate_reporter_with_smells
           sources.each do |source|
-            reporter.add_examiner Examiner.new(source,
+            reporter.add_examiner Examiner.new(Source::SourceCode.from(source),
+                                               origin: options.stdin_filename,
                                                filter_by_smells: smell_names,
                                                configuration: configuration,
                                                error_handler: LoggingErrorHandler.new)
diff --git a/lib/reek/cli/options.rb b/lib/reek/cli/options.rb
index 5a04ff8fa..a1a287638 100644
--- a/lib/reek/cli/options.rb
+++ b/lib/reek/cli/options.rb
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ class Options
                     :show_empty,
                     :show_links,
                     :sorting,
+                    :stdin_filename,
                     :success_exit_code,
                     :failure_exit_code,
                     :generate_todo_list,
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ def set_banner
         BANNER
       end
 
-      # :reek:TooManyStatements { max_statements: 6 }
+      # :reek:TooManyStatements { max_statements: 7 }
       def set_configuration_options
         parser.separator 'Configuration:'
         parser.on('-c', '--config FILE', 'Read configuration options from FILE') do |file|
@@ -111,6 +112,11 @@ def set_configuration_options
                   'for a list of smells') do |smell|
           smells_to_detect << smell
         end
+        parser.on('--stdin-filename FILE',
+                  'When passing code in via pipe, assume this filename when '\
+                  'checking file or directory rules in the config.') do |file|
+          self.stdin_filename = Pathname.new(file)
+        end
       end
 
       def set_generate_todo_list_options
diff --git a/lib/reek/examiner.rb b/lib/reek/examiner.rb
index 584e0ac1e..ffacd4124 100644
--- a/lib/reek/examiner.rb
+++ b/lib/reek/examiner.rb
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ module Reek
   # Applies all available smell detectors to a source.
   #
   # @public
+  # :reek:TooManyInstanceVariables { max_instance_variables: 5 }
   class Examiner
     # Handles no errors
     class NullHandler
@@ -33,12 +34,16 @@ def handle(_exception)
     #   The configuration for this Examiner.
     #
     # @public
+    # :reek:ControlParameter
+    # :reek:LongParameterList { max_params: 6 }
     def initialize(source,
+                   origin: nil,
                    filter_by_smells: [],
                    configuration: Configuration::AppConfiguration.default,
                    detector_repository_class: DetectorRepository,
                    error_handler: NullHandler.new)
       @source              = Source::SourceCode.from(source)
+      @origin              = origin || @source.origin
       @smell_types         = detector_repository_class.eligible_smell_types(filter_by_smells)
       @detector_repository = detector_repository_class.new(smell_types: @smell_types,
                                                            configuration: configuration.directive_for(description))
@@ -48,17 +53,13 @@ def initialize(source,
     # @return [String] origin of the source being analysed
     #
     # @public
-    def origin
-      @origin ||= source.origin
-    end
+    attr_reader :origin
 
     # @return [String] description of the source being analysed
     #
     # @public
     # @deprecated Use origin
-    def description
-      origin
-    end
+    alias description origin
 
     #
     # @return [Array<SmellWarning>] the smells found in the source
diff --git a/lib/reek/source/source_code.rb b/lib/reek/source/source_code.rb
index 8801c4155..f4d388c8f 100644
--- a/lib/reek/source/source_code.rb
+++ b/lib/reek/source/source_code.rb
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ def initialize(code:, origin:, parser: self.class.default_parser)
       # :reek:DuplicateMethodCall { max_calls: 2 }
       def self.from(source)
         case source
+        when self     then source
         when File     then new(code: source.read,           origin: source.path)
         when IO       then new(code: source.readlines.join, origin: IO_IDENTIFIER)
         when Pathname then new(code: source.read,           origin: source.to_s)
diff --git a/spec/reek/cli/application_spec.rb b/spec/reek/cli/application_spec.rb
index 5ed5d30cf..2a7ea6bb0 100644
--- a/spec/reek/cli/application_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/reek/cli/application_spec.rb
@@ -44,6 +44,18 @@
                configuration: Reek::Configuration::AppConfiguration,
                options: Reek::CLI::Options)
       end
+
+      context 'when a stdin filename is provided' do
+        let(:app) { described_class.new ['--stdin-filename', 'foo.rb'] }
+
+        it 'assumes that filename' do
+          app.execute
+          expect(Reek::CLI::Command::ReportCommand).to have_received(:new).
+            with(sources: [$stdin],
+                 configuration: Reek::Configuration::AppConfiguration,
+                 options: Reek::CLI::Options)
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     context 'when no source files given and no input was piped' do