diff --git a/cmd/lsf/lsf.go b/cmd/lsf/lsf.go
index d6dfe2458..3dffe5ce3 100644
--- a/cmd/lsf/lsf.go
+++ b/cmd/lsf/lsf.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ var (
 	filesOnly bool
 	dirsOnly  bool
 	csv       bool
+	absolute  bool
 )
 
 func init() {
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ func init() {
 	flags.BoolVarP(&filesOnly, "files-only", "", false, "Only list files.")
 	flags.BoolVarP(&dirsOnly, "dirs-only", "", false, "Only list directories.")
 	flags.BoolVarP(&csv, "csv", "", false, "Output in CSV format.")
+	flags.BoolVarP(&absolute, "absolute", "", false, "Put a leading / in front of path names.")
 	commandDefintion.Flags().BoolVarP(&recurse, "recursive", "R", false, "Recurse into the listing.")
 }
 
@@ -125,6 +127,15 @@ Eg
     test.sh,449
     "this file contains a comma, in the file name.txt",6
 
+Note that the --absolute parameter is useful for making lists of files
+to pass to an rclone copy with the --files-from flag.
+
+For example to find all the files modified within one day and copy
+those only (without traversing the whole directory structure):
+
+    rclone lsf --absolute --files-only --max-age 1d /path/to/local > new_files
+    rclone copy --files-from new_files /path/to/local remote:path
+
 ` + lshelp.Help,
 	Run: func(command *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		cmd.CheckArgs(1, 1, command, args)
@@ -149,6 +160,7 @@ func Lsf(fsrc fs.Fs, out io.Writer) error {
 	list.SetSeparator(separator)
 	list.SetCSV(csv)
 	list.SetDirSlash(dirSlash)
+	list.SetAbsolute(absolute)
 
 	for _, char := range format {
 		switch char {
diff --git a/fs/operations/operations.go b/fs/operations/operations.go
index 9ca423b9c..5903b15f9 100644
--- a/fs/operations/operations.go
+++ b/fs/operations/operations.go
@@ -1372,6 +1372,7 @@ func CopyFile(fdst fs.Fs, fsrc fs.Fs, dstFileName string, srcFileName string) (e
 type ListFormat struct {
 	separator string
 	dirSlash  bool
+	absolute  bool
 	output    []func() string
 	entry     fs.DirEntry
 	csv       *csv.Writer
@@ -1388,6 +1389,11 @@ func (l *ListFormat) SetDirSlash(dirSlash bool) {
 	l.dirSlash = dirSlash
 }
 
+// SetAbsolute prints a leading slash in front of path names
+func (l *ListFormat) SetAbsolute(absolute bool) {
+	l.absolute = absolute
+}
+
 // SetCSV defines if the output should be csv
 //
 // Note that you should call SetSeparator before this if you want a
@@ -1423,12 +1429,15 @@ func (l *ListFormat) AddSize() {
 // AddPath adds path to file to output
 func (l *ListFormat) AddPath() {
 	l.AppendOutput(func() string {
-		_, isDir := l.entry.(fs.Directory)
-
-		if isDir && l.dirSlash {
-			return l.entry.Remote() + "/"
+		remote := l.entry.Remote()
+		if l.absolute && !strings.HasPrefix(remote, "/") {
+			remote = "/" + remote
 		}
-		return l.entry.Remote()
+		_, isDir := l.entry.(fs.Directory)
+		if isDir && l.dirSlash {
+			remote += "/"
+		}
+		return remote
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/operations/operations_test.go b/fs/operations/operations_test.go
index d295dfcd1..37e28436d 100644
--- a/fs/operations/operations_test.go
+++ b/fs/operations/operations_test.go
@@ -726,6 +726,13 @@ func TestListFormat(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Contains(t, list.Format(items[0]), "/")
 	assert.Equal(t, "inode/directory", list.Format(items[1]))
 
+	list.SetOutput(nil)
+	list.AddPath()
+	list.SetAbsolute(true)
+	assert.Equal(t, "/a", list.Format(items[0]))
+	list.SetAbsolute(false)
+	assert.Equal(t, "a", list.Format(items[0]))
+
 	list.SetOutput(nil)
 	list.AddSize()
 	assert.Equal(t, "1", list.Format(items[0]))