diff --git a/CPV/input.f90 b/CPV/input.f90
index eb229ca6c..42eac2594 100644
--- a/CPV/input.f90
+++ b/CPV/input.f90
@@ -836,7 +836,7 @@ MODULE input
            etot_conv_thr, ekin_conv_thr, nspin, f_inp, nelup, neldw, nbnd,     &
            nelec, tprnks, ks_path, press, cell_damping, cell_dofree, tf_inp,   &
            refg, greash, grease, greasp, epol, efield, tcg, maxiter, etresh,   &
-           passop
+           passop, tot_charge
      !
      USE input_parameters, ONLY : wf_efield, wf_switch, sw_len, efx0, efy0,    &
                                   efz0, efx1, efy1, efz1, wfsd, wfdt, maxwfdt, &
@@ -1006,7 +1006,8 @@ MODULE input
      CALL ks_states_init( nspin, tprnks, tprnks_empty )
 
      CALL electrons_base_initval( zv, na_inp, ntyp, nelec, nelup, &
-                                  neldw, nbnd, nspin, occupations, f_inp )
+                                  neldw, nbnd, nspin, occupations, f_inp, &
+                                  tot_charge )
 
      CALL electrons_setup( empty_states_nbnd, emass, emass_cutoff, nkstot )
 
diff --git a/Doc/INPUT_CP b/Doc/INPUT_CP
index ff2246859..3c628ece4 100644
--- a/Doc/INPUT_CP
+++ b/Doc/INPUT_CP
@@ -210,6 +210,10 @@ nelec          INTEGER
                number of electron in the unit cell. If not specified it is
                read from the pseudopotential
 
+tot_charge     INTEGER ( default = 0 )
+               total system charge. Used if nelec is not specified,
+               otherwise it is ignored.
+
 nbnd           INTEGER ( default = nelec / 2 )
                number of electronic states (bands) to be calculated.
 
diff --git a/Modules/electrons_base.f90 b/Modules/electrons_base.f90
index 897eab346..db271b0c0 100644
--- a/Modules/electrons_base.f90
+++ b/Modules/electrons_base.f90
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 
 
     SUBROUTINE electrons_base_initval( zv_ , na_ , nsp_ , nelec_ , nelup_ , neldw_ , nbnd_ , &
-               nspin_ , occupations_ , f_inp )
+               nspin_ , occupations_ , f_inp, tot_charge_ )
 
       USE constants, ONLY: eps8
       USE io_global, ONLY: stdout
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
       INTEGER, INTENT(IN) :: nbnd_ , nspin_
       CHARACTER(LEN=*), INTENT(IN) :: occupations_
       REAL(DP), INTENT(IN) :: f_inp(:,:)
-      REAL(DP) :: nelec, nelup, neldw, ocp, fsum
+      REAL(DP) :: nelec, nelup, neldw, ocp, fsum, tot_charge_
       INTEGER   :: iss, i, in
 
       nspin = nspin_
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
         DO i = 1, nsp_
           nelec = nelec + na_ ( i ) * zv_ ( i )
         END DO 
+        nelec = nelec - tot_charge_
       END IF
 
       IF( nelup_ > 0.0d0 .AND. neldw_ > 0.0d0 ) THEN
diff --git a/Modules/input_parameters.f90 b/Modules/input_parameters.f90
index 25226dd9e..41ff2e910 100644
--- a/Modules/input_parameters.f90
+++ b/Modules/input_parameters.f90
@@ -337,6 +337,9 @@ MODULE input_parameters
           ! number of electrons, this parameter is MANDATORY in FPMD
           ! may be fractionary in PW, but not in CP and FPMD !
 
+        REAL(DP):: tot_charge = 0.0d0
+	  ! total system charge 
+
         REAL(DP) :: ecutwfc = 0.0d0
           ! energy cutoff for wave functions in k-space ( in Rydbergs )
           ! this parameter is MANDATORY in FPMD
@@ -552,7 +555,8 @@ MODULE input_parameters
 #endif
              noncolin, lspinorb, lambda, angle1, angle2, report, &
              constrained_magnetization, B_field, fixed_magnetization, &
-             sic, sic_epsilon, force_pairing, sic_alpha
+             sic, sic_epsilon, force_pairing, sic_alpha, &
+	     tot_charge
 
 
 !=----------------------------------------------------------------------------=!