diff --git a/kittens/icat/main.py b/kittens/icat/main.py
index 2973da98e..feb61510a 100755
--- a/kittens/icat/main.py
+++ b/kittens/icat/main.py
@@ -96,9 +96,10 @@ Do not print out anything to stdout during operation.
 
 
 --z-index -z
-type=int
 default=0
-Z-index of the image. When negative, text will be displayed on top of the image.
+Z-index of the image. When negative, text will be displayed on top of the image. Use
+a double minus for values under the threshold for drawing images under cell background
+colors. For example, --1 evaluates as -1,073,741,825.
 '''
 
 
@@ -207,6 +208,14 @@ def show(outfile, width, height, zindex, fmt, transmit_mode='t', align='center',
         write_chunked(cmd, data)
 
 
+def parse_z_index(val):
+    origin = 0
+    if val.startswith('--'):
+        val = val[1:]
+        origin = -1073741824
+    return origin + int(val)
+
+
 def process(path, args, is_tempfile):
     m = identify(path)
     ss = get_screen_size()
@@ -366,6 +375,11 @@ def main(args=sys.argv):
     except Exception:
         raise SystemExit('Not a valid place specification: {}'.format(args.place))
 
+    try:
+        args.z_index = parse_z_index(args.z_index)
+    except Exception:
+        raise SystemExit('Not a valid z-index specification: {}'.format(args.z_index))
+
     if args.detect_support:
         if not detect_support(wait_for=args.detection_timeout, silent=True):
             raise SystemExit(1)