diff --git a/atrcopy/__init__.py b/atrcopy/__init__.py
index f4e28c2..ef96284 100644
--- a/atrcopy/__init__.py
+++ b/atrcopy/__init__.py
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ def run():
     parser.add_argument("-b", "--bytes", nargs="+", action="append", help="data file(s) to add to assembly, specify as file@addr (requires -o to specify filename stored on disk image)")
     parser.add_argument("-o", "--output", action="store", default="", help="output file name for those commands that need it")
     parser.add_argument("--shred", action="store_true", default=False, help="fill empty sectors with 0")
+    parser.add_argument("--vtoc", action="store_true", default=False, help="show the VTOC")
     options, extra_args = parser.parse_known_args()
     print options, extra_args
 
@@ -240,3 +241,7 @@ def run():
 
             if options.shred:
                 shred_image(parser.image)
+
+            if options.vtoc:
+                vtoc = parser.image.get_vtoc_object()
+                print vtoc
diff --git a/atrcopy/diskimages.py b/atrcopy/diskimages.py
index bcf16cb..638a885 100644
--- a/atrcopy/diskimages.py
+++ b/atrcopy/diskimages.py
@@ -324,6 +324,11 @@ class DiskImageBase(object):
         self.bytes[:], self.style[:] = state
         return
 
+    def get_vtoc_object(self):
+        vtoc_segments = self.get_vtoc_segments()
+        vtoc = self.vtoc_class(self.header, vtoc_segments)
+        return vtoc
+
     def write_file(self, filename, filetype, data):
         """Write data to a file on disk
 
@@ -338,8 +343,7 @@ class DiskImageBase(object):
             dirent = directory.add_dirent(filename, filetype)
             data = to_numpy(data)
             sector_list = self.build_sectors(data)
-            vtoc_segments = self.get_vtoc_segments()
-            vtoc = self.vtoc_class(self.header, vtoc_segments)
+            vtoc = self.get_vtoc_object()
             directory.save_dirent(self, dirent, vtoc, sector_list)
             self.write_sector_list(sector_list)
             self.write_sector_list(vtoc)
@@ -374,8 +378,7 @@ class DiskImageBase(object):
             self.get_directory(directory)
             dirent = directory.find_dirent(filename)
             sector_list = dirent.get_sectors_in_vtoc(self)
-            vtoc_segments = self.get_vtoc_segments()
-            vtoc = self.vtoc_class(self.header, vtoc_segments)
+            vtoc = self.get_vtoc_object()
             directory.remove_dirent(self, dirent, vtoc, sector_list)
             self.write_sector_list(vtoc)
             self.write_sector_list(directory)
@@ -388,8 +391,7 @@ class DiskImageBase(object):
     def shred(self, fill_value=0):
         state = self.begin_transaction()
         try:
-            vtoc_segments = self.get_vtoc_segments()
-            vtoc = self.vtoc_class(self.header, vtoc_segments)
+            vtoc = self.get_vtoc_object()
             for sector_num, pos, size in vtoc.iter_free_sectors():
                 log.debug("shredding: sector %s at %d, fill value=%d" % (sector_num, pos, fill_value))
                 self.bytes[pos:pos + size] = fill_value