diff --git a/src/main/java/net/fabricmc/loom/LoomGradlePlugin.java b/src/main/java/net/fabricmc/loom/LoomGradlePlugin.java
index e5545b2..63e6e87 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/fabricmc/loom/LoomGradlePlugin.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/fabricmc/loom/LoomGradlePlugin.java
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public class LoomGradlePlugin implements BootstrappedPlugin {
 	public void apply(Project project) {
 		project.getLogger().lifecycle("Fabric Loom: " + LOOM_VERSION);
 
-		refreshDeps = project.getGradle().getStartParameter().isRefreshDependencies();
+		refreshDeps = project.getGradle().getStartParameter().isRefreshDependencies() || Boolean.getBoolean("loom.refresh");
 
 		if (refreshDeps) {
 			project.getLogger().lifecycle("Refresh dependencies is in use, loom will be significantly slower.");