diff --git a/distributions/load.py b/distributions/load.py
index bfea53c..8a41f91 100644
--- a/distributions/load.py
+++ b/distributions/load.py
@@ -2,15 +2,25 @@
 Load distributions into the database.
 """
 
+import pathlib
+import urllib.parse
+
 import tqdm
+import typer
 from jaraco.ui.main import main
 
 from .. import pypi
 
 
+def _make_url(url_or_path: str) -> str:
+    if not urllib.parse.urlparse(url_or_path).scheme:
+        return f'file://{pathlib.Path(url_or_path).expanduser().absolute()}'
+    return url_or_path
+
+
 @main
 def run(
-    url: str = pypi.top_8k,
+    url: str = typer.Argument(pypi.top_8k, callback=_make_url),
 ):
     for dist in tqdm.tqdm(list(pypi.Distribution.query(url=url))):
         dist.save()